Slovenian gene sequencing project step towards personalised healthcare
Ljubljana, 29 January - The Paediatrics Clinic at the UKC Ljubljana hospital is launching a gene sequencing project with the aim of personalizing healthcare. The researchers will look into genomes of healthy adults to find risks that could be treated and to develop a Slovenian reference genome, the project organisers said at the presentation on Wednesday.
The project will involve 500 seemingly healthy adults who have already given their blood samples, said Tadej Battelino, head of the endocrinology department at the clinic. In the coming months their genomes will be checked for risks that can be treated. The Maribor University has developed an AI tool for this purpose.
The pharmagenomics lab of the Ljubljana Faculty of Medicine will look into characteristics that will allow potential treatment to be adapted to every individual, Battelino said, adding that 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 could not 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, said UKC Ljubljana director Marko Jug, adding that it is especially important that such technologies are developed by public institutions monitored by individuals and institutions with high integrity.
The project is funded by Slovenia's Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS). Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Igor Papič said that EUR 450,000 would 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.