Look into "Viking Genes" shows benefits of personalised health insights

Researchers from the Viking Genes research project identified 108 genetic variants – differences in a person’s DNA – in 23 genes, which can be linked to conditions like cancer and heart disease. These results were then communicated to participants, giving them the opportunity to undertake personalised treatment for their condition. Experts say it is one of the UK's first extensive efforts in returning clinically actionable genetic results to people involved in the study. 

After receiving a letter advising him of a variant in the BRCA2 gene, one volunteer underwent tests that showed he had prostate cancer. He underwent a successful operation in February to remove his prostate and is already back at work on his fishing boat. The research also revealed that 10 of these disease-causing variants were much more common in either Orkney or Shetland than elsewhere in the UK. Experts say the findings demonstrate the power of targeted genetic screening to help improve the health of people from isolated communities. 

Viking Genes, led by experts at the University of Edinburgh, is investigating the genetics and health of volunteers with at least two grandparents from the Hebrides, Shetland or Orkney. In this latest study, researchers analysed the genetic data of 4,198 participants and found small differences known to affect health in about 2.5% of them. 

NHS Grampian clinical genetics services verified the findings before 64 consenting participants were notified about their results, with experts adhering to recently introduced international guidelines developed by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics for returning genomic results. The study, which involved researchers the University of Aberdeen and the Regeneron Genetics Center, is published in the American Journal of Human Genetics and was funded by the Medical Research Council. The letters were funded by a Wellcome Trust Institutional Translational Partnership Award (iTPA), through the iTPA team at Edinburgh Innovations.    

"These ground-breaking new results from the Viking Genes project underscore the critical role of genetic research in foreseeing and forestalling disease," said Professor Jim Flett Wilson, Chair of Human Genetics at the University of Edinburgh. "By tailoring our approach to fit specific genetic backgrounds, we can offer more precise, predictive, and preventative healthcare, thereby protecting communities, preserving health and saving lives. The results of this study provide a foundation for creating bespoke genetic screening programs for the Scottish Islanders and other unique genetic populations." 

Since 2005, Viking Genes has recruited over 10,000 volunteers from the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland — regions known for their unique gene pools due to historical isolation and limited migration. This distinct genetic background provides a powerful tool to identify rare but medically significant genetic variants, experts say. It has previously identified clusters of rare breast and ovarian cancers in Shetland and Orkney involving the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. 

Source: University of Edinburgh

17.03.2025

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