We are excited to announce that GoE partners from Poland, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences and University of Lodz, have launched their new project co-financed by the European Union, entitled Genomics for Poland (G4PL). The project, constituting the largest strategic genomics research initiative ever implemented in Poland, is carried out by a consortium of 12 research institutions, led by the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry Polish Academy of Sciences (IBCH PAS), accompanied by the affiliated Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PCSS). The PI of the project is Luiza Handschuh, the director of IBCH PAS.
G4PL aims to establish a nationwide, interoperable infrastructure for genomic research, including a network of laboratories, a central national repository for genomic data, and biobanks. It addresses growing demand for advanced genomic services in academia, industry, and healthcare, contributing to the development of personalized medicine, innovative diagnostics, and targeted therapies.
Within the project, 6,000–7,000 DNA samples will be sequenced, including those from healthy donors across the country as well as patients with rare diseases. A portion of these data will contribute to GoE, integrating Polish resources into the European genomic landscape. Data analysis pipelines, AI-based tools and a dedicated software for prioritizing genetic variants will be developed. The greatest challenge will be applying the power of a quantum computer to processing genomic data.
Kick-off meeting
The G4PL kick-off meeting took place on 22–23 January 2026 in Poznań. During the first day open session, held at IBCH PAS, keynote lectures were delivered by the GoE coordinator, André Uitterlinden who discussed genomics from a European perspective, and Jan Lubiński (Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin), who presented research on genetic predispositions of the Polish population to cancer.
Both lectures, as well as a presentation of the G4PL project by Luiza Handschuh, are available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCMR3r5ePAg
