EU invests 30 million euros to understand the epigenome

The European Union has invested 30 million euros ($40.3 million) to understand the epigenome - a link between genes, environment and health. BLUEPRINT, a new large-scale research project, will lead to targeted diagnostics, new treatments and preventive measures for specific diseases in individual patients; an approach known as “personalized medicine.”

BLUEPRINT, officially launched on October 1, is the European cornerstone of an international research cooperation effort - the International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC), bringing together organizations and researchers from across the globe. The project upholds the EU's pledge to maximize open access to results of publicly-funded research, as teams from around the world will have a platform to openly share their results.

Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, said: "Our genes may produce the ingredients that make us who and what we are, but it is the recipe - or epigenetics - that determines how those ingredients are put together. Europe is showing leadership in medical research with this groundbreaking international project that will improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease."