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

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 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.

Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58465-3 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58465-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58465-3

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().