Cancer is a disease involving two unique genomes – germline, and that of the respective tumor. This setting represents a key challenge for medical research, deeply involving multiple disciplines. We and others have made seminal discoveries in identification of major human cancer genes, thus increasing our understanding on the basic concepts of malignant growth. The rapid advances in genomic technologies are now enabling full genome analysis of individuals and cancers. This will finally allow complete dissection of germline and somatic genetic variation contributing to neoplasia. Genetics of cancer is a key field of medical research, in which Finland and this consortium have excellent traditions at the highest international level.

Contact person: Professor Veli Mäkinen
Home page: http://www.helsinki.fi/coe/cancer-genetics/index.html

The CoE in Cancer Genetics Research is led by Academy Professor Lauri Aaltonen from Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. Other participating research groups from Faculty of Medicine are the groups of Academy Professor Jussi Taipale and Professor Sampsa Hautaniemi. The group of Professor Eero Pukkala represents the Cancer Registry. Department of Computer Science and HIIT are represented by Genome-scale Algorithmics research group.