NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – The University of Tartu in Estonia announced it has received €2.5 million ($2.7 million) from the European Commission to create new academic positions in translational genomics as part of the university's TransGeno project.
The university is looking to hire a team of leading researchers who will also popularize genomics, recruit students into the sciences, and engage with clinicians to educate them on the usefulness of clinical genomic data in everyday practice, Sulev Kõks, a professor of pathophysiology who is in charge of the school's TransGeno project, said in a statement. The researchers will also be expected to work with health sector businesses to push results into medical practice.
The investment will bolster the university's Centre of Translational Genomics, making it easier to forge research partnerships with leading institutions, as well as attract talent and research funding, Kõks said. He added that the university plans to create a doctoral program for specialization in translational genomics.
In December 2014, Eric Lander, president of the Broad Institute, said in a talk at the university that, "Estonia could serve as an example for how the rest of the world integrates genomic medicine into public health and prevention efforts."