On 23th September, 2016 Professor Sir John Burn, eminent geneticist, visited the Nencki Institute. He participated in the specialized seminar on Human Variome Project, of which he is the global coordinator, organized by the Institute of Experimental Biology PAS and the Institute of Human Genetics PAS in Poznan. Professor Burn presented a lecture entitled: The challenges of genomic medicine, after which a round table discussion was held with participation of Polish experts, among others: Prof. Anna Latos-Bieleńska (Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan Uniwersity of Medicval Sciences), Prof. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek (the Nencki Institute PAS), Prof. Leszek Kaczmark (Dean of the Biology and Agricultural Science Faculty II PAS), Prof. Jan Lubiński (Department of Genetics and Pathology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin), Prof. Maciej Nałęcz (Director for the European Union Strategic Programs at the Nencki Institute), Prof. Witold Rużyłło (Dean of the Medical Science Faculty V PAS), Prof. Maria Sąsiadek (Department of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University), Prof. Cezary Szczylik (Military Institute of Medicine, Department of Oncology, the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of National Defense), Prof. Adam Szewczyk (Director for the Nencki Institute PAS), Prof. Michał Witt (Director for the Institute of Human Genetics PAS in Poznan), Prof. Ewa Ziętkiewicz (Institute of Human Genetics PAS in Poznan) and Prof. Maciej Żylicz (President of The Foundation For Polish Science).

Professor Sir John Burn is associated with the Institute of Genetics at the University of Newcastle. He combines his teaching and clinical actions, with being chief investigator of International Cancer Prevention Programme (CAPP), medical director of the medical device company, QuantuMDx ltd., and co-chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Human Variome Project. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for services medicine and healthcare.

The Human Variome Project (HVP) is an International Consortium of Scientists created in 2006 under the auspices of UNESCO, and now also of  WHO, with a goal of constructing of a global library of all varioms in human genotype, with a particulat attention to pathogenic mutations related to hereditary diseases. The HVP acta through formation of national coordinating groups (Country Nodes), as well as groups dedicated to study a given hereditary disease (Disease Groups). Participation in HVP actions requires utilizing a common protocol to describe and bank information on mutations, free sharing of collected data among researchers and clinitians on a way that guarantees privacy of personal data concerning patients, andusage of  especially developed ethical rules for genetic research, diagnosis and therapy. . Poland is not yet a member of the Human Variome Project. The meeting in the Nencki Institute was organized In order to inform the Polish scientific community about the Project, and to discuss a possibility of creation of a “Polish Node” of the HVP.