BGB: Belgian Genome Biobank

Status: Ongoing Health Environment

The Belgian Genome Biobank (BGB) project was started to create a secure system for storing and analysing genetic information from people in Flanders and Belgium. This genetic information of the population is very important for advancing science and medicine. The BGB is a key first step towards a future where doctors can use a person’s unique genetic signature to help prevent and treat diseases.

Advancing precision medicine

The Belgian Genome Biobank (BGB) project is dedicated to creating a comprehensive genomic resource of the Flemish/Belgian population in a secure compute environment. Its objective is to support and perform genetic and health studies, paving the way for future research into the genetic causes and (risk) factors of human traits, diseases and their interactions with the environment.

By characterising population-specific genetic associations, the BGB project aims to advance precision medicine. Understanding variations between in disease prevalence and distribution of genetic variants across different populations is crucial but requires access to population-based genetic reference datasets. Currently, there is no such population-based genetic reference dataset and infrastructure available for the Flemish/Belgian population. The BGB project will fill this gap, providing essential reference data and establishing a sustainable operational infrastructure for human genomics in Flanders and Belgium.

The importance of data governance

This project was initiated as a collaboration between KU Leuven, Ghent University, University of Antwerp, IMEC, VITO and VIB. Over time additional partners such as Sciensano have expressed interest in joining the initiative. The VIB-ELIXIR Belgium team will coordinate the establishment of the infrastructure, interact with sequencing sites to leverage data transfer, establish the distributed sequence data storage infrastructure, and streamline the analysis procedures.

Data governance is a critical aspect of the BGB project. It ensures that genomic information, which is inherently personal and identifiable, is accessed and used responsibly. Clear guidelines will dictate who can access the data, when, how and for what purpose, ensuring the highest level of care and security.

VITO's role in BGB

As a key member of the BGB consortium’s steering group, VITO plays a crucial role in advising on data protection issues and exploring the interactions between genetics and the environment. Our team is dedicated to brining practical use cases for the BGB and facilitating the on boarding of study cohorts. This effort ensures that the biobank achieves a representative sample of the Flemish and Belgian population.