POPSCORE · Leveraging POPulation genetic inferences to build actionable and equitable polygenic risk SCOREs for disease predictions

POPSCORE is an interdisciplinary and intersectoral project aimed at developing actionable and equitable polygenic risk scores (PRS) for disease prediction, with a focus on populations underserved in genetic research. PRS estimates genome-wide disease risk from inherited DNA variation, but clinical use is limited because of inconsistent performance across populations and because PRS does not include the full spectrum of genetic risk. To address this, POPSCORE will evaluate current state-of-the-art PRS methods and develop new approaches that integrate population-specific history and the estimated contribution of high-effect, rare variants. This will capture important variability in genetic architecture between populations, particularly in high-risk individuals, that current PRS approaches miss.POPSCORE has three objectives. First, it will deliver proof-of-principle for this novel approach, enhancing PRS performance and clinical utility, focusing on depression and cardiometabolic disease in high-risk individuals. Second, it will improve transferability of genetic risk prediction across populations by implementing the approach in two diverse genetic cohorts: the BioMe biobank and the HELIUS study. Third, POPSCORE leverages practices of co-creation with stakeholders and evidence-based science communication and policy design, carefully weighing benefits and risks of PRS and its ethical implementation.Conducted at Amsterdam University Medical Center and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, POPSCORE engages non-academic partners (Pharos Expertise Center for Health Disparities and the EU Joint Research Centre) and societal stakeholders, fostering collaboration across continents, building lasting bridges between academia and society, and providing an important stepping-stone for career development for the fellow. POPSCORE will advance the field of personalized medicine, supporting the European Commission's mission to improve health and wellbeing.