The research initiative will profile up to 500,000 Finnish biobank participants
Biotechnology company Azenta Life Sciences has announced its participation in the FinnGen project, a large-scale research initiative at the forefront of personalised medicine in Finland.
The FinnGen project is a pioneering endeavor that has collected and is currently analysing genomic and health data from a cohort of 500,000 Finnish biobank participants.
Azenta is leading the FinnGen study in collaboration the University of Helsinki, and their joint aim is to provide comprehensive proteomics profiling on up to 20,000 individuals. This underscoring Azenta's commitment to advancing healthcare innovation and personalised treatments, according to the company.
Azenta will use Olink's advanced proteomics technology, based on the proprietary Proximity Extension Assay, to provide high-quality protein-level measurements across all major biological pathways.
Professor Aarno Palotie, FinnGen scientific director from the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki said: "FinnGen's adoption of proteomics marks a pivotal advancement in our quest to decode the complexities of human health and disease.
They added: "By integrating the dynamic insights of proteomics with our extensive genomic data, we can gain a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms, identify new biomarkers for early detection, and uncover novel therapeutic targets. We are pleased to collaborate with Azenta Life Sciences, and trust that they will provide excellent service and deliver high-quality proteomic data with a fast turnaround time."They continued: "combined with excellent quality and reliable results, Azenta Life Sciences can help us construct a strong foundation for advancing the field of personalised medicine."
Ginger Zhou, PhD., senior vice president and general manager, genewiz Multiomics & Synthesis Solutions from Azenta Life Sciences said: "Multiomics technologies from Azenta enable researchers to efficiently generate detailed proteomics data from study participants carrying medically and clinically significant genetic variants, opening up a world of possibilities for understanding disease mechanisms and developing targeted treatments."
FinnGen is a large public-private partnership aiming to collect and analyse genome and health data from 500,000 Finnish biobank participants. FinnGen aims on one hand to provide novel medically and therapeutically relevant insights but also construct a world-class resource that can be applied for future studies.
FinnGen is one of the first personalised medicine projects at this scale and the public-private collaborative nature of the project is unusual compared with many ongoing studies. FinnGen brings together Finnish universities, hospitals and hospital districts, THL, Blood Service, biobanks, FINBB and international pharmaceutical companies and hundreds of thousands of Finns. Because collaboration is the key to achieving breakthroughs in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
