Press release: FinnGen taps into a unique gene pool to find the next breakthroughs in disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment

A unique study has been launched in Finland that will deepen our understanding about the origins of diseases and their treatment. The FinnGen study plans to tap into 500 000 unique blood samples collected by a nation-wide network of Finnish biobanks.
Finnish landscape

The goals of the study are ambitious. ”All breakthroughs that arise from the project will eventually benefit health care systems and patients both locally and globally. The study will, for instance, help us find new areas for drug discovery and ways to prevent disease. The FinnGen study will most definitely have a positive impact on the attractiveness of Finland as a global pioneer for medical research and innovation,” says Research Director Aarno Palotie, from the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) at the University of Helsinki.

The research project is based on matching genome information with digital health care data from national registries. All samples are coded before analysis, and the study is conducted following the highest standards of data security.

FinnGen is coordinated by researchers from the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki University Central Hospital. FinnGen is a national research project that can benefit everyone – both nationally and globally. All Finns can take part in the study by giving a biobank consent allowing the use of their samples.  

FinnGen is globally an unprecedented research project – a similar study has never been performed at the same scale. Due to the unique heritage of the Finnish population, our genome data can be analysed faster and more effectively than in populations of more heterogenous origins – significantly improving the chances of breakthrough findings. ”Finland offers a great foundation for nation-wide genome research. The FinnGen study is also characterised by exceptionally broad and open cooperation between biobanks, universities, health care districts, the health care industry and hopefully hundreds of thousands of Finns,” says Kimmo Pitkänen, Director of Helsinki Biobank.

In addition to biobanks and research organisations, the Finnish Funding Agency of Innovation TEKES, nine Finnish enterprises and seven international pharmaceutical companies take part in the study: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Celgene, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, MSD and Pfizer. ”Tekes wanted to support the project, because of its potential to promote healthcare innovation and support the growth and internationalisation of local businesses. In addition, the project makes Finland more attractive in the eyes of global businesses and investors,” says Development Director Minna Hendolin, who is responsible for Health and Wellbeing at Tekes.

Samples are needed from all over Finland in the thousands, because solutions in the field of personalised healthcare can be found only by looking at large masses. The FinnGen study will benefit Finns long into the future. ”With FinnGen, we can build a foundation for health innovations and personalised treatments. When the study is finished, all data that has been produced during the project will stay in the ownership of Finnish biobanks and will remain at the disposal of Finnish researchers and companies”, Palotie concludes and wishes all Finns welcome on a common journey into our heritage.

 

For more information:

 

Professor Aarno Palotie

Research Director, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM),

HiLIFE, University of Helsinki

 

Faculty member, Center for Human Genome Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital

Associate member, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

 

Tel:  +358 41 501 5915

aarno.palotie@helsinki.fi

 

 

Minna Hendolin, Development Director

Tekes

Tel:  +358 50 5577665

minna.hendolin@tekes.fi

 

www.finngen.fi

 

 

Appendix 1   List of partners

 

Coordinators:

 

University of Helsinki, HiLIFE,

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM

Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH)

 

Funders:

 

Tekes, The Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation

Abbvie

AstraZeneca

Biogen

Celgene

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group

MSD

Pfizer

 

Finnish Biobanks and their host organisations:

 

Auria Biobank

Hospital District of Southwest Finland

University of Turku

Satakunta Hospital District

Vaasa Hospital District

 

Helsinki Biobank

Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS)

University of Helsinki

Kymenlaakso Social and Health Services (Carea)

South Karelia Social and Health Care District (Eksote)

 

Finnish Hematology Registry and Clinical Biobank (FHRB)

Finnish Red Cross Blood Service

Finnish Association of Hematology

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki

 

Biobank of Eastern Finland

Northern Savo Hospital District

University of Eastern Finland

South Savo Social and Health Care Authority

Joint Municipal Authority for North Karelia Social and Health services (Siun sote)

Eastern Savo Hospital District

 

Central Finland Biobank

Central Finland Health Care District

University of Jyväskylä

 

Northern Finland Biobank Borealis

Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District

University of Oulu

Joint Municipal Public Utility for Northern Finland central laboratory Nordlab

Central Ostrobothnia Joint Municipal Authority for Social and Health Care

Kainuu Social and Health Care Joint Municipal Authority

Lappi Hospital District

Länsi-Pohja Hospital District

 

Finnish Clinical Biobank Tampere

Pirkanmaa Hospital District

University of Tampere

Kanta-Häme Hospital District

South Ostrobothnia Hospital District

 

THL Biobank

The National Institute of Health and Welfare (THL)

 

Blood Service Biobank

Finnish Red Cross Blood Service