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