Nature Biotech publishes in its latest issue an article about the European project Blueprint that was launched last October and aims to generate epigenomic maps of up to one hundred different types of blood cells to help researchers understand how the epigenome influences health and disease.

The Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program of IDIBELL, led by the researcher Manel Esteller, is one of the 41 participants of the project that brings together research centers, universities and companies. With this initiative, Europe has pledged a substantial contribution to the ultimate goal of the International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC) to map 1,000 human epigenomes. The European Union funds with 30 million euros the project which counts with a total budget of 40 million euros for the next 4 four years and a half.

Article reference
Adams D., Altucci L, Antonarakis S., Ballesteros J., Beck S., Bird A., Bock C., Boehm B., Campo E., Caricasole A.,Dahl F., Dermitzakis E., Enver T., Esteller M.*, Estivill X. et al. BLUEPRINT to decode the epigenetic signature written in blood. Nature Biotechnology, Volume: 30, Pages: 224–226 Year published: (2012). doi:10.1038/nbt.2153- Published online 07 March 2012

More information about BLUEPRINT project:
www.blueprint-epigenome.eu