Project description
Supporting genomics and evolutionary studies in Estonia
Technological advances in genomics allow scientists to reconstruct the genetic history of our species. Can the same be done for common diseases? Are they the result of evolutionary driving forces? The EU-funded cGEM project aims to address these questions by helping to establish an integrated centre for genomics, evolution and medicine in Estonia. Researchers will develop disease risk prediction models to understand the emergence of common diseases in different populations. This will be achieved by using in-house biobanks for local populations as well as through international collaborations. The ultimate goal is to translate findings into everyday clinical practice.
Objective
The proposed ERA Chair – the Center for Genomics, Evolution and Medicine (cGEM) aims to apply advancements in genomic medicine in an evolutionarily-aware framework to account for different evolutionary pathways of populations which have led to differences in susceptibility to common diseases. This requires the knowledge about the genetic risk factors for diverse ethnic groups and the tools to highlight the underlying genetic predisposition to diseases in complex human populations. For this reason, we will bring together the scientific expertise in three institutions: the Estonian Biocentre (EBC) and the Estonian Genome Center (EGC) which will be consolidated to form the Institute of Genomics at University of Tartu (IGUT) in January 2018, and the Institute of Clinical Medicine (ICM). The synergy between the three scientific hubs will create the research capacity for tackling the abovementioned aim. This capacity will be built to apply a holistic approach to understand the evolutionary driving forces that have led to common diseases; develop disease risk prediction models applicable in different populations, and explore the means for translating these findings into suitable input for everyday clinical practice.
For these purposes we shall estimate the mutation rate across molecular pathways during the evolution, migration and mixing of the human populations, and study the roles of demographic history and local adaptation in the global patterns of mutation processes in humans exploring regional differences in the accumulation of mutations predisposing individuals to common complex diseases.
the cGEM will utilize its international collaborations and in-house biobanks to advance the personalized medicine solutions for admixed populations for predicting risk of certain complex diseases, including metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.4.c. - Establishing ‚ERA Chairs’ Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
51005 Tartu
Estonia