Abstract

Cancer initiation and progression require a complex interaction of genetic, environmental and clinical factors. Most research, however, has been focused on only a narrow aspect of the disease process. Data generated by the Human Genome Project, as well as large-scale molecular analysis of tumours, have indicated that a more systematic approach, in which the biological information is integrated with clinical features, is warranted. There are many aspects of the Icelandic population that make it well suited for such a broad-based approach. The Icelandic Cancer Project was therefore initiated to build a population-based clinical genomics database and biobank that can be used to study cancer — from genetic predisposition to clinical outcome.

Author affiliations

1. Thorunn Rafnar, Steinunn Thorlacius, Eirikur Steingrimsson, Violeta Calian and Bjarki J. Eldon are at Iceland Genomics Corporation, Snorrabraut 60, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland.
2. Mikkel H. Schierup, Jesper N. Madsen and Jotun Hein are at the Bioinformatics ApS, Hoegh Guldbergsgade 10, 8000 Arhus C, Denmark.
3. Thorvaldur Jonsson is at Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
4. Snorri S. Thorgeirsson is at the Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Building 37, Room 4146A1, 37 Convent Drive, MSC4262, Bethesda, MD 20892-4262 USA.

Correspondence to: Snorri S. Thorgeirsson⁴ Email: snorri_thorgeirsson@nih.gov

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