title: Cohort Profile: Estonian Biobank of the Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu.
abstract: The Estonian Biobank cohort is a volunteer-based sample of the Estonian resident adult population (aged ≥18 years). The current number of participants-close to 52000--represents a large proportion, 5%, of the Estonian adult population, making it ideally suited to population-based studies. General practitioners (GPs) and medical personnel in the special recruitment offices have recruited participants throughout the country. At baseline, the GPs performed a standardized health examination of the participants, who also donated blood samples for DNA, white blood cells and plasma tests and filled out a 16-module questionnaire on health-related topics such as lifestyle, diet and clinical diagnoses described in WHO ICD-10. A significant part of the cohort has whole genome sequencing (100), genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data (20 000) and/or NMR metabolome data (11 000) available (http://www.geenivaramu.ee/for-scientists/data-release/). The data are continuously updated through periodical linking to national electronic databases and registries. A part of the cohort has been re-contacted for follow-up purposes and resampling, and targeted invitations are possible for specific purposes, for example people with a specific diagnosis. The Estonian Genome Center of the University of Tartu is actively collaborating with many universities, research institutes and consortia and encourages fellow scientists worldwide to co-initiate new academic or industrial joint projects with us.
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Liis
authors: L
authors: Leitsalu
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Toomas
authors: T
authors: Haller
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Divisions of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, US.
authors: Tõnu
authors: T
authors: Esko
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Mari-Liis
authors: ML
authors: Tammesoo
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Helene
authors: H
authors: Alavere
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Harold
authors: H
authors: Snieder
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Public Health Genomics Unit, Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland, University of Helsinki, Institute for Molecular Medicine, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Perola
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore and.
authors: Pauline C
authors: PC
authors: Ng
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Reedik
authors: R
authors: Mägi
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Milani
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors: Krista
authors: K
authors: Fischer
authors: Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia, Estonian Biocentre, Tartu, Estonia andres.metspalu@ut.ee.
authors: Andres
authors: A
authors: Metspalu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018070:Biological Specimen Banks / Q000639:trends*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D015894:Genome, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases / Q000592:standards*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D055815:Young Adult