GENOME DATA

Promoting individual health and well-being

LATEST

laastarin laitto
articles

Digitisation, biobanks and data resources spearhead the Finnish health sector

ihminen kuvaamassa flow festival
articles

Data should equal people power

articles

Finnish Data Design – A new golden era?

archived

Finland’s Isaacus will start the next revolution

laastarin laitto
news

New study: genome data helps prevent most common cause of death among Finns

kävelevät ihmiset flow festival
articles

Artificial Intelligence could save needless hassle for thousands of patients

Koululainen näppäimistö
news

Electronic self-care services may soon reach more than a million Finns

news

Future doctors unlocked their own genome – this is what they learned

news

The strategy proposal for the efficient use of genome data

articles

Estonia is on the road to saving more human lives with genomics

articles

Sitra Trends: technology will be integrated into everyday life

Work is well under way on the development of Finland's national genome strategy, with support from Sitra.
archived

The genome strategy begins to take shape

Yhteiskunta terveydenhuollon ympärillä on jo digitalisoitunut.
news

Untapped potential in digital health and well-being services

Harvalla suomalaisella on näkemys siitä, mitä on genomitieto.
archived

Gene mania and the myths of heredity

Geenitietoa voidaan tulevaisuudessa käyttää yhä enemmän sairauksien ennalta ehkäisyssä.
news

Individuals’ genetic information to be put to better use in healthcare

archived

My genes are not mine alone

New genome data will revolutionise healthcare

Sitra is supporting the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in the preparation of a national genome strategy. Currently under way, the preparation work is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2015. Read more here.

Tremendous opportunities lie in new genetic research methods for analysing what makes people healthy or fall ill, and how to prevent and cure diseases. Genome-related information can be used to make better individual choices, target screening and diagnostics and choose the most effective medications. People can thus take responsibility for and affect their own well-being if they wish to do so.

Genome-related information can be used to chart the risk factors threatening an individual’s health and to provide more precise and effective treatment. In addition to hereditary factors – the genome – a person’s health and well-being are affected by environmental factors, personal choices and chance. Analysis of hereditary risk factors enables a shift towards more preventive and cost-effective healthcare.

Individual genome-related information is the key to adopting a new way of thinking and practices in well-being and healthcare. The cost of genome sequencing has fallen one million-fold during the last few years. In addition to healthcare professionals, consumers can purchase their individual genome-related information directly from genome data service providers.

Genome data as a tool for well-being

Sitra aims to ensure that genome-related information will be put to effective use as part of individual well-being, healthcare and the prevention of illnesses on a national scale. This would enable people to live longer and healthier lives.

Citizens must therefore be provided with the opportunity to access information on key hereditary risk factors affecting their health and well-being. We must start from the idea that individuals will have ownership of their personal genome data and the right to decide on its use.

Sitra promotes the use of genome data and self-care by participating in pilot and co-operation projects. Projects are launched and implemented together with various partners. Sitra also seeks to encourage service provision and business in this field in Finland, for example by investing in top companies in the sector.

The field and its service business prospects for Finnish companies are described in the report Direct-to-consumer genome data services and their business models (in Finnish).

Background 

Professor Leena Palotie envisioned a wise and humane future for the use of genome information as early as in 2000: “Who owns an individual’s genome information and to what extent should this information be made available to the individual, his or her family, the healthcare system, the employer or the insurance company? A wise solution to these questions requires not only social debate but also national and international agreements and legislation, based on a sincere aim of acting in the individual’s best interests – not those of society.” (Leena Palotie: Mihin genomiprojekti johtaa? Duodecim, 2000, in Finnish).

In his book, American cardiologist and geneticist Eric Topol describes the potential major transition in healthcare, in which a key role would be played by genome information and its use. According to Dr Topol, the transition will only be possible if consumers demand it. Eric Topol: Creative Destruction of Medicine – How the digital revolution will create better health care, Basic Books, New York, 2012.

The Faroe Islands is offering its entire population the opportunity to take part in whole genome sequencing: Faroe Islands Aim to Sequence Genes of Entire Country, Discover Magazine, 2013.

The Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) conducts world-class research in charting the genome of the Finnish population and has compiled a Finnish gene atlas. In its work, FIMM combines high-quality research and technology with unique patient data and biobank material. The aim is to promote translational research and the adoption of personalised medicine in healthcare. The new Finnish Gene Atlas places Finns on the world’s genetic map, FIMM 2010.

Geeniatlas paljastaa suomalaisten poikkeavuuden, Yliopisto-lehti 2010 (in Finnish).

Hyvä kunto – mitä se on? Suomen Liikunnan Ammattilaiset SLA ry (in Finnish).

Report on how the UK can benefit from the adoption of genomic technology. The report includes a strategic vision and practical recommendations: Genomic Technology in Healthcare: Building On Our Inheritance, UK 2012.

PUBLICATIONS

publications

Improving health through the use of genomic data

publications

Direct-to-consumer genome data services and their business models

Contact us

people
Marja Pirttivaara
Senior Lead, Fair data economy
people
Tuula Tiihonen
Senior Lead, Democracy and participation
people
Jukka Vahti
Project Director, Digital power and democracy
people
Juha Vapaavuori
people
Kirsti Kaustara

What's this about?