Genome of Ireland research project launches to aid development of a European reference genome

Posted on: 30 January 2025

The project encompasses 49 partner institutions across 27 European countries and has a total budget of almost €45 million, out of which €20 million is funded under the Digital Europe Programme. 

Importantly, the Genome of Europe project will enable groundbreaking medical research that improves diagnosis and treatment, and advances personalised medicine, disease prediction, and prevention. It will also support public health policy measures, for example for rare diseases and cancer.

In establishing the first European reference genome, we will have a digital representation of all the DNA in the human body. This will reflect European genetic and ancestral diversity by country, including minorities. The project will involve the participation of over 100,000 European citizens, drawn from existing biobanks as well as new volunteers.

The Irish contribution will establish a reference dataset of at least 1,200 individuals living in Ireland. This genomic data will be aggregated with that of other countries at the European level, making it one of the world’s most comprehensive genomic endeavours to date. The wider European project will offer a unique data resource that will redress the fragmentation in genetic information across Member States, including Ireland.

Dr Russell McLaughlin, Associate Professor in the School of Genetics and Microbiology, said: “The Genome of Ireland Project will lay the foundation for the integration of genomics into Irish healthcare and biomedical research. This benefits everyone by creating a resource for the public good that will have a lasting impact on diagnosis, therapeutic development and our understanding of the genetics of the people of Ireland.”

Jennifer Carrol MacNeill, Minister for Health, welcomed the news. She said:  “I am pleased to welcome Ireland's participation in the Genome of Europe project. This initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing medical research and improving public health. By contributing to the establishment of the first European reference genome, we are paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in personalised medicine, disease prediction, and prevention.

“This will help bring in a new era of smarter, more targeted treatments that make full use of advances in genomics, leveraging the innovations that are arising from the biotechnology revolution.”

The Genome of Ireland project is also important from the perspective of linking research with clinical services, specifically supporting the progression and development of Genetic and Genomic Medicine services in Ireland in line with implementing the ‘National Strategy for Accelerating Genetic and Genomic Medicine (2022)’.

The Department of Health is fully committed to supporting this Europe-wide initiative and is providing funding via the Health Research Board (HRB) who are supporting the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) for delivery of the Genome of Ireland project.

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