Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

The Estonian Biobank’s journey from biobanking to personalized medicine

Lili Milani, Maris Alver, Sven Laur, Sulev Reisberg, Toomas Haller, Oliver Aasmets, Erik Abner, Helene Alavere, Annely Allik, Tarmo Annilo, Krista Fischer, Robin J. Hofmeister, Georgi Hudjashov, Maarja Jõeloo, Mart Kals, Liis Karo-Astover, Silva Kasela, Anastassia Kolde, Kristi Krebs, Kertu Liis Krigul, Jaanika Kronberg, Karoliina Kruusmaa, Viktorija Kukuškina, Kadri Kõiv, Kelli Lehto, Liis Leitsalu, Sirje Lind, Laura Birgit Luitva, Kristi Läll, Kreete Lüll, Kristjan Metsalu, Mait Metspalu, René Mõttus, Mari Nelis, Tiit Nikopensius, Miriam Nurm, Margit Nõukas, Marek Oja, Elin Org, Marili Palover, Priit Palta, Vasili Pankratov, Kateryna Pantiukh, Natalia Pervjakova, Natàlia Pujol‐Gualdo, Anu Reigo, Ene Reimann, Steven Smit, Diana Rogozina, Dage Särg, Nele Taba, Harry-Anton Talvik, Maris Teder‐Laving, Neeme Tõnisson, Mariliis Vaht, Uku Vainik, Urmo Võsa, Burak Yelmen, Tōnu Esko, Raivo Kolde, Reedik Mägi, Jaak Vilo, Triin Laisk, Andres Metspalu

Nature Communications · 2025

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Summary

Large biobanks have set a new standard for research and innovation in human genomics and implementation of personalized medicine. The Estonian Biobank was founded a quarter of a century ago, and its biological specimens, clinical, health, omics, and lifestyle data have been included in over 800 publications to date. What makes the biobank unique internationally is its translational focus, with active efforts to conduct clinical studies based on genetic findings, and to explore the effects of return of results on participants. In this review, we provide an overview of the Estonian Biobank, highlight its strengths for studying the effects of genetic variation and quantitative phenotypes on health-related traits, development of methods and frameworks for bringing genomics into the clinic, and

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.1038/s41467-025-58465-3
Catalogue ID
SNmoj44ckf-debgdx
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