Nature Communications (Apr 2025)
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 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,
- Tõnu Esko,
- Raivo Kolde,
- Reedik Mägi,
- Jaak Vilo,
- Triin Laisk,
- Andres Metspalu
Affiliations
- Lili Milani
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Maris Alver
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Sven Laur
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu
- Sulev Reisberg
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu
- Toomas Haller
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Oliver Aasmets
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Erik Abner
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Helene Alavere
- Estonian Biobank, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Annely Allik
- Estonian Biobank, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Tarmo Annilo
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Krista Fischer
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Robin Hofmeister
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Georgi Hudjashov
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Maarja Jõeloo
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Mart Kals
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Liis Karo-Astover
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Silva Kasela
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Anastassia Kolde
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kristi Krebs
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kertu Liis Krigul
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Jaanika Kronberg
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Karoliina Kruusmaa
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Viktorija Kukuškina
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kadri Kõiv
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kelli Lehto
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Liis Leitsalu
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Sirje Lind
- Estonian Biobank, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Laura Birgit Luitva
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kristi Läll
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kreete Lüll
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kristjan Metsalu
- Estonian Biobank, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Mait Metspalu
- Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- René Mõttus
- Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu
- Mari Nelis
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Tiit Nikopensius
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Miriam Nurm
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Margit Nõukas
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Marek Oja
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu
- Elin Org
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Marili Palover
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Priit Palta
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Vasili Pankratov
- Centre for Genomics, Evolution and Medicine, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Kateryna Pantiukh
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Natalia Pervjakova
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Natàlia Pujol-Gualdo
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Anu Reigo
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Ene Reimann
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Steven Smit
- Estonian Biobank, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Diana Rogozina
- Estonian Biobank, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Dage Särg
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Nele Taba
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Harry-Anton Talvik
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu
- Maris Teder-Laving
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Neeme Tõnisson
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Mariliis Vaht
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Uku Vainik
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Urmo Võsa
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Burak Yelmen
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Tõnu Esko
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Raivo Kolde
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu
- Reedik Mägi
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Jaak Vilo
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu
- Triin Laisk
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- Andres Metspalu
- Estonian Genome Centre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58465-3
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 16,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 13
Abstract
Abstract 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 its role as a driving force for implementing personalized medicine on a national level and beyond.
