GDI Ireland will build the infrastructure for genomic data

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and FutureNeuro, together with University College Dublin, are leading the Irish element of a new EU project to support the integration of genomics into healthcare and the advancement of new patient treatments.

Co-financed by art European Commission, under the Digital Europe Program and the Health Research Board (HRB), Genomic Data Infrastructure (GDI) Ireland is part of a consortium of 20 EU Member States with the aim of enabling access to genomics and related clinical data across Europe by creating secure data infrastructure. The project will contribute to the creation of a cross-border federated network of national genome collections for biomedical research and personalized medical solutions.

National Head of Genomic Data Infrastructure Ireland, Gianpiero Cavalleri, Professor of Human Genetics at RCSI and Deputy Director of SFI’s FutureNeuro Research Centre, said: “By implementing this integrated analysis system, we will enable Irish genomes to be analyzed safely and reliably alongside similar datasets. from other European countries. Such an infrastructure could accelerate the discovery of genetic causes of disease and provide information to develop much-needed treatments for diseases such as cancer which can have a devastating effect on our lives.”

Irish genetic data

The Irish GDI will establish best practice for the management of Irish genetic data, protecting the security of personal data provided by individuals. The work will be based on the experience and technologies developed by European partners.

The Genomic Data Infrastructure project enables Ireland to participate in a pan-European “The 1+ Million Genomes Initiativewhich drives the development, deployment and operation of sustainable data access infrastructures in each participating country.

Mairead O’Driscoll, Chief Executive of the Health Research Council, said: “The GDI project brings together national agencies, research organisations, technology providers and patient organizations in 20 countries. The main objective is to design, develop and implement a cross-border integrated network of national collections of genomes and other relevant data for the development of data-driven personalized medicine for the benefit of European citizens.

“With Ireland’s involvement in this project, our researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, data management experts, data analysts and others will collaborate on a roadmap for data infrastructure in Ireland and conduct proof-of-concept work using synthetic data.”

Cavalleri and Denis Shields (University College Dublin) are co-directors of the GDI Ireland project, with Edin Culhane (University of Limerick) and Marcus Helfert (Maynooth University and Director of SFI Empower SPOKE) as co-applicants. The team will be supported by the SFI Genomics Research Training Centre, the Irish Platform for Patient and Industry Organizations (IPPOSI) and Health Charities Ireland (HRCI).

Serena Scollen, GDI’s European Coordinator, also emphasized the importance of having an infrastructure for genomic data and said: “Countries will be able to deploy infrastructure to facilitate secure cross-border access to data. In the end, the citizens of Europe will benefit, and thanks to joint training and improved health care, citizens all over the world.”