Slovenian reference genome in the making
Experts at Slovenia's largest medical centre are working on a gene sequencing project with the aim of developing a national reference genome and personalizing healthcare, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
As part of the project, led by the Paediatric Clinic at the UKC Ljubljana medical centre, 500 seemingly healthy adults donated their blood samples three years ago.
The researchers will have looked into their genomes in the coming months to check for risks that could be treated, according to Tadej Battelino, head of the endocrinology department at the clinic.
The volunteers, most of whom are over 50, have each given permission for examination of what they can benefit from. "We're not looking at other things, not digging into the individual's genome as it were," Battelino said at the presentation of the project on 29 January.
The set of genes will expand over time and every time a new risk gene is discovered an AI tool developed by the University of Maribor will check those genes in the volunteers' genome and notify the researchers, who in turn will notify the volunteers.
"This means concrete security for each individual and the reassurance that a very well-organised system is looking after them," Battelino said.
The pharmagenomics lab of the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine will look into characteristics that will allow potential treatment to be adapted to every individual. The process is still being developed.
Battelino hopes that the project will help make gene sequencing faster and more affordable. At the moment even the richest countries in the world cannot afford gene sequencing for their whole population, Battelino said, adding that Slovenia hopes to be able to sequence the genes of all newborns by 2030.
The manipulation of genetic material with the help of AI opens new questions about tempering with civilizational development.
This is why it is especially important that such technologies are developed by public institutions monitored by individuals and institutions with high integrity, UKC Ljubljana director Marko Jug said.
The project is funded by Slovenia's Research and Innovation Agency. Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Igor Papič said that €450,000 will be allocated for the project every year.
At the same time, the Genome of Europe project is being launched in Slovenia, aiming to create a database of genomes of healthy European citizens.