Development of personalized medicine gains momentum from a new collaborative project in Finland
The Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN), Neurocenter Finland, and public healthcare hospital biobanks have launched a joint project aimed at strengthening the conditions for personalized medicine in Finland.
Personalized medicine utilizes genetic and other biological information in disease prevention, diagnostics, and treatment. Funded by a state grant from the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM), the project lays the foundation for a national Finnish personalized medicine program, using cancer and neurological diseases as pilot cases.
"Personalized medicine is the direction of the future, and Finland has significant opportunities in its implementation. This project is an important step towards a national program that strengthens both healthcare and research," says Tomi Mäkelä, Director of the Finnish Cancer Center.
Enhanced Collaboration Between Biobanks and Cluster of Excellence Centers
The project's goal is to promote the utilization of personalized medicine within the healthcare service system by strengthening collaboration between biobanks and national cluster of excellence centers in its development.
The project enhances the collection of biobank samples related to the pilot diseases, standardizes the recording of health information linked to the samples, and ensures that biobank samples and associated data crucial for healthcare and research are more widely accessible.
With this project, the role of biobanks in the development of personalized medicine is strengthened. Tom Southerington, interim CEO of the Finnish Biobank Cooperative FINBB, sees one of the key opportunities in the project as optimizing the use of biobank samples:
"By harmonizing and strengthening biobank sample collection and data flows on a national level, we can better support both research and individualized patient care."
Eero Rissanen, Director of Neurocenter Finland, highlights the project's significance in advancing brain health: "The development of individualized prevention and treatment, and research of brain diseases — including neurological disorders and mental health conditions — require the simultaneous utilization of large datasets and multiple data types. Strengthening collaboration in the use of sample data and its application in patient care and research also lays a strong foundation for new innovations."
Towards a National Personalized Medicine Program
The project will continue until October 2026, and its results will be utilized in planning the national personalized medicine program. The project's progress can be followed on the websites and social media channels of the Finnish Cancer Center, Neurocenter Finland, and biobanks.
Information on the STM webages: Finnish Cancer Center, Neurocenter Finland, and biobanks.
Read the news here: https://www.uef.fi/fi/artikkeli/yksilollistetyn-laaketieteen-kehitys-saa-vauhtia-uudesta-yhteistyohankkeesta