From Biobank to Participant: Lessons from Returning Genomic Results at Scale in Estonia

Liis Leitsalu, PhD, MSc, is a genetic counsellor and researcher at the Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, Estonia. Her work focuses on the implementation of genomic medicine, return of genomic results, and the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics and biobanking.

Liis completed her MSc in Genetic Counseling at Sarah Lawrence College (USA) and received her PhD in Gene Technology from the University of Tartu, where her doctoral research examined the communication of genomic research results to population biobank participants. She is an EBMG-certified genetic counsellor and also works at the Genetics and Personalized Medicine Clinic of Tartu University Hospital.

Over the past decade, Liis has contributed to the development and evaluation of genomic result return initiatives within the Estonian Biobank, including the nationwide MyGenome Portal, which provides personalised genomic information to more than 200,000 biobank participants.