In January 2026, the largest genomics project in Poland will launch, opening a new chapter in the field of population genetics research. The project “Genomika dla Polski” (G4PL) is funded by the European Union under the FENG programme (European Funds for a Modern Economy), Action 2.4 – Research Infrastructure of the Modern Economy. The project brings together 12 research and academic institutions from across the country, with the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (ICHB PAS) acting as the consortium leader.
The project aims to develop a national genomics research infrastructure—a network of laboratories providing genome sequencing services, new data analysis tools, and a central genomic data repository, managed by PCSS affiliated with ICHB PAS. Biological material collected as part of the project will be stored in biobanks already maintained by consortium partners.
The project is led by Dr. Luiza Handschuh, Associate Professor at ICHB PAS, head of the Genomics Laboratory since 2013 and Director of the Institute since December 2023. The project runs from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2029, with a total budget of PLN 248,337,770.24, co-financed by PLN 180,481,656.59.
Consortium members:
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Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński National Institute of Cardiology – National Research Institute in Warsaw
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Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology – Gliwice Branch
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Łukasiewicz Research Network – Polish Center for Technology Development
In line with FENG programme requirements, the project also involves business partners contributing in-kind support without receiving funding: Polish companies BCODERS S.A. and Analityk Genetyka Unrug Wójtowicz Sp. k..
The consortium partners already possess advanced instrumentation and extensive experience in genomics research. However, these resources are not sufficient to meet national needs. Therefore, the participating laboratories will be equipped with additional instruments, primarily high-throughput DNA analyzers, including short- and long-read sequencers based on various technologies, as well as devices for optical genome mapping. New analytical tools will also be developed, some employing AI methods and quantum computing. The G4PL network laboratories will not only conduct research but also offer a broad range of services for scientific, industrial, and healthcare institutions. In the long term, this will provide easier access to modern technologies, precise diagnostic tools, and personalized therapies.
The project will also collect and sequence new sets of DNA samples from Polish citizens, including individuals affected by rare, oncological, and cardiovascular diseases. The resulting population dataset, representing diverse regions of Poland, will contribute to the Genome of Europe (GoE) project—an EU-funded initiative launched in late 2024 by the Erasmus Medical Center at Erasmus University Rotterdam, together with 49 partners from 27 countries. Poland is represented by the University of Łódź and ICHB PAS. The GoE project, led by world-renowned genomics and population genomics expert Prof. André Uitterlinden, aims to sequence at least 100,000 genomes of European residents. Prof. Uitterlinden was a special guest at the inauguration of the G4PL project in Poznań on 22 January 2026.
Under G4PL, DNA from 6,000–7,000 donors will be collected, with a significant portion sequenced using long-read technologies—a major advantage, given the high cost and limited availability compared to short-read sequencing offered by global industry leaders such as Illumina (USA) and MGI (China). The new DNA data will expand the existing collection of approximately 11,000 complete genome sequences held by consortium members. All data will be stored in a central repository managed by PCSS, and reanalyzed as needed using protocols developed within G4PL.
Data processing, storage, and sharing will follow European and international genomic data standards, including GDPR and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. Data security remains a core concern: establishing a comprehensive, self-sufficient genomics infrastructure in Poland—from biobanks and sequencing laboratories to analysis, storage, and data distribution—will minimize or even eliminate the outflow of samples and data abroad.
Many countries now recognize that genomics is the cornerstone of modern medicine—both at the level of individual patients and entire populations. This has led to the rapid development of national and international genomics initiatives, such as the 1+ Million Genomes Initiative (1+MG), in which Poland currently participates only as an observer. Building on 1+MG, three major European projects have been launched: Beyond 1 Million Genomes (B1MG, 2020–2023), Genomic Data Infrastructure (GDI, 2022–2026), and the aforementioned Genome of Europe (GoE, 2024–2028).
In Poland, genomic research has so far been more limited in scale and fragmented than in many other countries. The creation of a unified national network of cooperating laboratories, operating under standardized procedures and providing highly specialized genomics services, aims to overcome this fragmentation and catalyze further scientific progress. However, challenges remain, such as limited public awareness and a lack of state-level support. A noteworthy example comes from Estonia, which recognized the importance of investing in population-scale genetic research as early as 2000. The Estonian Genome Project gained full government support, including legislative changes, public education efforts, and sustainable funding. As a result, Estonia now holds around 200,000 genotypes, representing 20% of its adult population—collected by the Estonian Genome Centre and Estonian Biobank at the University of Tartu, one of the key partners in Genome of Europe.
In summary, G4PL is a strategic national development project designed to build a modern, comprehensive genomics research infrastructure and drive progress comparable to that observed across Europe and beyond. The project includes infrastructure expansion for genome sequencing, collection of new population datasets, development of analytical and database tools, and organizational tasks such as standardization, interoperability, and legal-ethical framework advancement for the management of genetic data.
The implementation of G4PL will enable the effective use of genomic technologies and data in research, medicine, and industry—particularly in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and IT—and will strengthen national health policy. Developments in precision medicine, as well as modern diagnostic and therapeutic tools, are now inseparable from the advancement of genomics. This field not only helps identify individual genetic predispositions and prevent diseases but also supports the design of personalized treatments, prediction of adverse drug reactions, and optimization of patient responses to therapy.
Project value: PLN 248,337,770.24
EU co-funding: PLN 180,481,656.59
Project duration: 2026–2029
In-kind contributors: BCODERS S.A. and Analityk Genetyka Unrug Wójtowicz Sp. k.
The project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Funds for a Modern Economy programme.
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