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Researchers

24,780 baseline participants

11,035 follow-up participants

21,000 baseline biological samples

Publications

Since 2011, more than 200 scientific articles based on the HELIUS data have been published. Below you can find, filter and read them.

Filters

Theme

Year

Antihypertensive Medication Category Prescriptions and Blood Pressure Control in African Surinamese and Ghanaian Migrants with Hypertension in Amsterdam, The Netherlands: The HELIUS Study

Year: 2025
Authors: van Apeldoorn JAN, Jansen L, Hoevenaar-Blom MP, Harskamp RE, Galenkamp H, van den Born BJH, Agyemang C, Richard E, Moll van Charante EP

Autonomic cardiac control independently predicts incident hypertension and systolic blood pressure in a multi-ethnic population: The HELIUS study

Year: 2025
Authors: Bouwmeester TA, Vriend EMC, Galenkamp H, Westerhof BE, Collard D, van den Born BJH

Midlife dementia risk scores in a multi-ethnic population in the Netherlands: the HELIUS study

Year: 2025
Authors: Lindhout J, van der Endt AR, Hoevenaar-Blom MP, van Dalen JW, Deckers K, Geerlings MI, Galenkamp H, Richard E, Moll van Charante EP

The association and contribution of gender-related characteristics to prevalent chronic kidney disease in women and men in a multi-ethnic population – The HELIUS study

Year: 2025
Authors: Vosters TG, Kingma FM, Stel VS, Jager KJ, van Ittersum FJ, van den Born BJH, Vogt L, van Valkengoed IGM

Trans-ancestry genome-wide study of depression identifies 697 associations implicating cell types and pharmacotherapies

Year: 2025
Authors: Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium

The mediating role of health behaviors in the association between depression, anxiety and cancer incidence: an individual participant data meta-analysis

Year: 2024
Authors: Pan KY, van Tuijl L, Basten M, Rijnhart JJM, de Graeff A, Dekker J, Geerlings MI, Hoogendoorn A, Ranchor AV, Vermeulen R, Portengen L, Voogd AC, Abell J, Awadalla P, Beekman ATF, Bjerkeset O, Boyd A, Cui Y, Frank P, Galenkamp H, Garssen B, Hellingman S, Hollander M, Huisman M, Huss A, Keats MR, Kok AAL, Krokstad S, van Leeuwen FE, Luik AI, Noisel N, Payette Y, Penninx BWJH, Picavet S, Rissanen I, Roest AM, Rosmalen JGM, Ruiter R, Schoevers RA, Soave D, Spaan M, Steptoe A, Stronks K, Sund ER, Sweeney E, Teyhan A, Twait EL, van der Willik KD, Lamers F

Ethnic variations in metabolic syndrome components and their associations with the gut microbiota: the HELIUS study

Year: 2024
Authors: Balvers M, de Goffau M, van Riel N, van den Born BJ, Galenkamp H, Zwinderman K, Nieuwdorp M, Levin E

The Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) study in Amsterdam, The Netherlands: cohort update 2024 and key findings

Year: 2024
Authors: Galenkamp H, Koopman AD, van der Zwan JE, van den Born BJ, Lok A, Moll van Charante EP, Prins M, Verhoeff A, Zwinderman AH, Stronks K

Healthy ageing in a multi-ethnic population: A descriptive cross-sectional analysis from the HELIUS study

Year: 2024
Authors: Menassa M, Franco OH, Galenkamp H, Moll van Charante EP, van den Born BH, Vriend EMC, Vidal PM, Stronks K

Sex differences in blood pressure phenotypes over time – the HELIUS study

Year: 2024
Authors: Vriend EMC, Bouwmeester TA, Franco OH, Galenkamp H, Zwinderman AH, van den Born BH, Collard D

About HELIUS

The HELIUS study is a prospective cohort study on health and health care among an urban multi-ethnic population.

The aim of the HELIUS study is to gain insight in the biological, psychological and social causes of the unequal burden of disease across ethnic groups, and ultimately enable the improvement of health care and prevention strategies. The study is being carried out in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is an initiative of Amsterdam UMC and the Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD Amsterdam).

The HELIUS study focuses on three primary research areas:

  • Cardiovascular diseases (including diabetes)
  • Mental disorders
  • Infectious diseases

Baseline data collection took place in 2011-2015. Nearly 25.000 participants of Turkish, Moroccan, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian and Dutch origin were included in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire/interview and a physical examination. Biological samples were obtained during study visits. In 2019 – 2022, all HELIUS participants were invited for follow-up measurements. Again, a physical examination was performed, including the collection of biological samples.

For more information on the study design and data collection, we refer to the following papers:

Collaboration

HELIUS has an open policy in regard to collaboration with research groups.

Researchers from various departments of Amsterdam UMC and the GGD Amsterdam collaborate in the HELIUS study. In addition, we are open to proposals of collaboration with external research groups.

  • Before access to data is provided, all researchers should carefully read and must adhere to the HELIUS Collaboration Policy.
  • In brief, a research proposal or publication proposal must be developed following the proposal formats, which can be found in the Collaboration Policy.
  • All proposals should then be submitted to the HELIUS Scientific Coordinator (heliuscoordinator@amsterdamumc.nl). The proposals are discussed in the HELIUS Executive Board regarding their study aims, overlap with ongoing studies, logistic consequences and financial contributions.
  • After approval of the proposal by the HELIUS Executive Board, the collaborative research project is embedded in one of the three research areas supervised by the specific HELIUS Theme Leader.

Linkages

Several linkages have been established with national or regional registries in the Netherlands, to enrich the data:

Consortia

We collaborate with multiple national and international consortia.

FAQ researchers

Who can collaborate?

Researchers affiliated with a Dutch or international research institute may request data or samples to conduct a study that fits within the general aims of HELIUS.

Proposals regarding scientific collaboration should be submitted to the Scientific Coordinator, preferably after consulting the relevant Theme Leader. The proposals will then be considered by the HELIUS Executive Board, on the basis of: 1. compatibility with the general objectives of the HELIUS study, 2. the quality of the research proposal, 3. possible overlap with other cohort studies, 4. the use of biological material, 5. logistical feasibility and 6. the (financial) contribution to be made.

Data collection consists of questionnaires, physical examination and collection of biomaterial. For an overview, see:

Yes, for access to data and biomaterial we follow the procedures as set out in the HELIUS Collaboration Policy, which you can download here.

Onze partners

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