Genome analyses for the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project towards establishment of personalized healthcare

J Biochem. 2019 Feb 1;165(2):139-158. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvy096.

Abstract

Personalized healthcare (PHC) based on an individual's genetic make-up is one of the most advanced, yet feasible, forms of medical care. The Tohoku Medical Megabank (TMM) Project aims to combine population genomics, medical genetics and prospective cohort studies to develop a critical infrastructure for the establishment of PHC. To date, a TMM CommCohort (adult general population) and a TMM BirThree Cohort (birth+three-generation families) have conducted recruitments and baseline surveys. Genome analyses as part of the TMM Project will aid in the development of a high-fidelity whole-genome Japanese reference panel, in designing custom single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays specific to Japanese, and in estimation of the biological significance of genetic variations through linked investigations of the cohorts. Whole-genome sequencing from >3,500 unrelated Japanese and establishment of a Japanese reference genome sequence from long-read data have been done. We next aim to obtain genotype data for all TMM cohort participants (>150,000) using our custom SNP arrays. These data will help identify disease-associated genomic signatures in the Japanese population, while genomic data from TMM BirThree Cohort participants will be used to improve the reference genome panel. Follow-up of the cohort participants will allow us to test the genetic markers and, consequently, contribute to the realization of PHC.

MeSH terms

  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genetics, Medical / trends*
  • Genome, Human / genetics*
  • Genomics*
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Precision Medicine / trends*
  • Reference Standards