Results based on the FinnGen data are presented in almost 30 talks or posters during the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) in Montreal, October 20-24. We also have a booth so this is a great opportunity to come and meet us!

Using data from more than 1,100 Finnish blood donors participating in FinnGen, researchers have created an atlas of over 10 million immune cells that links disease-associated genetic variants to the genes they control. The approach combines chromatin accessibility and gene expression data to reveal how genetic variation contributes to disease risk, helping researchers identify the molecular mechanisms underlying hundreds of diseases and health-related traits.

A variant found in 1 in 30 Finns may protect against the dry cough that often leads patients to stop taking ACE inhibitors, a common blood pressure medication. The study also identified a genetic predictor of intolerance to another blood pressure drug class, bringing personalized hypertension treatment closer.

Polygenic risk scores can identify individuals at substantially increased risk of developing glaucoma and those whose disease is likely to progress more rapidly. A new screening model based on these findings will soon be tested in Southern Finland.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver condition that occurs during pregnancy and is characterised by a disruption in the normal flow of bile from the liver. A new international study has identified a strong link between the genetic susceptibility to ICP and the body’s ability to regulate bile acids and metabolise lipids and cholesterol. The findings open up new avenues for research into maternal health and pregnancy-related liver diseases.

An international research team has identified dozens of new genetic risk factors linked to lumbar spinal stenosis, a common degenerative condition of the lower spine. The study, led by researchers at the University of Oulu, provides new insight into the biological mechanisms behind one of the most frequent causes of mobility problems in older adults.

An international collaboration of genetic researchers has identified more than 90 genetic regions associated with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The large-scale meta-analysis reveals new biological insights into the disease, highlighting the important roles of immune processes, beta-amyloid and tau biology, and lipid metabolism.

FinnGen at ESHG 2026: discover our latest science through talks and posters across the programme!

We are pleased to announce the release of FinnGen Data Freeze 13!

A doctoral dissertation by Veera Timonen shows how combining artificial intelligence, imaging and multi-omics data can advance understanding of human biology at scale, while also demonstrating a practical path to studying the function of disease-associated genetic variants.