The Estonian Genome Project is a population-based
biological database
Biological databases are libraries of biological sciences, collected from scientific experiments, published literature, high-throughput experiment technology, and computational analysis. They contain information from research areas including genom ...
and
biobank
A biobank is a type of biorepository that stores biological samples (usually human) for use in research. Biobanks have become an important resource in medical research, supporting many types of contemporary research like genomics and personalize ...
which was established in 2000 to improve
public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
in Estonia. It contains health records and
biological specimens
A biological specimen (also called a biospecimen) is a biological laboratory specimen held by a biorepository for research. Such a specimen would be taken by sampling so as to be representative of any other specimen taken from the source of th ...
from a large percentage of the Estonian population.
History
In June 2000 the Estonian Genome Foundation introduced the Estonian government to the Estonian Genome Project, and lobbied for legislative changes and government support to make the project possible. The project organizers invited input broadly from many sectors in planning to establish the EGF. The project was also presented as a cultural investment towards strengthening national identity by contributing to global research. At the time, many research teams were organizing similar projects, but this project was projected to be the world's largest.
An early goal of the project was to collect biological specimens and health data from 70% of Estonia's population of 1.4 million within its first 10 years. By 2004 the EGF had collected data from 10,000 people, and faced fiscal reorganization as they and their primary financier, EGeen, dissolved their partnership. As of February 2014 the project had collected genes, questionnaire data on health (e.g. diet, lifestyle and clinical diagnoses) and GP standard health examinations from 52,000 adult gene donors and the aim had been adjusted downwards to collect genealogical, genome and health data from 5% of the population.
The Estonian Genome Centre is based at the
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu (UT; et, Tartu Ülikool; la, Universitas Tartuensis) is a university in the city of Tartu in Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is the only classical university in the country, and also its biggest ...
.
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References
External links
English website for Estonian Genome Center
{{Authority control
Biobank organizations
Medical and health organizations based in Estonia
Science and technology in Estonia
2000 establishments in Estonia