Sweden's PROMISE Initiative: Bridging Research and Healthcare Through Multi-Omics

May 14, 2025

By Bio-IT World Staff 

May 14, 2025 | Sweden is positioning itself at the forefront of precision medicine with an ambitious new initiative that aims to transform how scientific research translates to patient care. The Precision Omics Initiative Sweden (PROMISE), recently outlined in Nature Medicine, seeks to revolutionize healthcare by creating a seamless flow of data between research laboratories and clinical settings. 

Led by Dr. Tuuli Lappalainen, professor of genomics at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and director at SciLifeLab, PROMISE will generate large-scale multi-omics data integrated with real-world healthcare information. Unlike many existing genomic databases that provide only "snapshots in time," PROMISE emphasizes longitudinal tracking that follows individuals through molecular analysis and biobank specimens alongside their clinical data over extended periods. 

What makes Sweden particularly well-suited for this initiative is its unique combination of advantages: a publicly funded healthcare system, universal personal identity numbers, high public trust in institutions, and world-class biomolecular infrastructure through SciLifeLab. The country's population of approximately 10 million—comparable to New York City—provides an ideal testing ground before potential expansion to other Nordic countries. 

Key features of PROMISE include: 

  • A platform for recruiting trial participants and returning clinically relevant results 
  • Prospective intervention studies for testing novel biomarkers and screening approaches 
  • A national database validating discoveries in a Swedish population context 
  • Mechanisms to feed research findings back to clinicians with actionable guidance 

While currently seeking funding, PROMISE aspires to significantly improve Sweden's ability to address public health challenges through precision diagnostics and AI-driven insights within five years. The initiative emphasizes broad access for qualified researchers while balancing innovation with appropriate privacy safeguards. 

“The potential for data-driven precision omics is really transformative,” notes Lappalainen, highlighting that such work can no longer be done in an “academic ivory tower” but requires integration with healthcare systems to realize its full potential for patient benefit. 

Read the full story by Deborah Borfitz on Clinical Research News.