Erik Abner

Scientist at @unitartu
Background in molecular biology, virology & epigenetics;
now working on human genetics and diseases.
Interested in missense variants.

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

@FoGenomics Doesn’t happen every day that your name is on three posters side by side and Darth Vader shows up too. Festival of Genomics 2026 is fun :) #FOG2026

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

@doctorveera Really cool paper! There’s also a BMI-lowering MC4R missense variant (https://t.co/bckDVzoUyq), but it doesn’t show a mirror-image lipid pattern (https://t.co/ssFR1EQnrf). Maybe this kind of metabolic compensation only kicks in when MC4R signaling is disrupted, not enhanced...

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

Take-home: even in well-studied European populations, there’s hidden biology waiting to be found. Using population-specific imputation panels lets you see uncommon and rare variants that global panels often miss.
https://t.co/bckDVzoUyq #GWAS #genetics #obesity

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

1/7 New BMI GWAS out! Using Estonian Biobank (n=204,747) and replication in FinnGen, we show that even in Europe you can still find region-specific biology if you zoom into population-tailored sumstats. Big thanks to @HannaMOllila & FinnGen friends!

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

6/7 Also also: an intronic protective ADGRL3 variant, located near CTCF sites. ADGRL3 gene is better known for its role in neurodevelopment and ADHD and is for first time linked to BMI; it has intriguing possibly has ties to incretin biology (GIP). Worth a deeper functional look!

[genomicstartu @genomicstartu]

We are looking for a PhD student!🧬

📊 Research project: Genetic basis of host susceptibility to respiratory viruses and chronic respiratory diseases
📍 Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu
📩 Application period: 1st–15th May 2025

Read more: https://t.co/z8dn75PV4A

[genomicstartu @genomicstartu]

We're hiring a #Postdoc in Population/Statistical Genetics. Work on improving PRS transferability + risk prediction in mixed ancestry.
📅 Term: 01.09.2025–30.09.2027
📍 In collab w/ @helsinkiuni & Estonian Biobank
🧬 Apply by April 30. https://t.co/kADDrAtlAp

[Lili Milani @MilaniLili]

Excited to share our recently published overview of the @ESTbiobank 🧬
We highlight the unique features of the biobank and the conducted scientific research, including the many recall studies that have been carried out over the years:
https://t.co/q7k7f2CuS8

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

We're accepting applications for fully-funded PhD student.
International applicants are welcome to apply!

Application is open now, closes 10 Jan 2025!

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

We're really proud to have contributed to this awesome work with @ESTbiobank data!
Congrats to the lead authors!

[Hanna M Ollila @HannaMOllila]

1/6 🚨 Thrilled to share our new preprint on the genetics of dermatophytosis susceptibility on @medrxivpreprint! 🚨 With over 250K cases and 1.37M controls across 4 cohorts, we uncover 30 loci that affect risk for this fungal infection affecting 20% of the global population. 🌍

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

Tšempionid olete! :)

[Sunset EuroFrø @Spicospina]

@chronicamonika @GenomicsDoge Mul kaks, mul kaks! Enda perre ja venna perre ka!

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

My new pop-science book on Estonian fossils is almost out! I wanna give out a sincere thanks to all the people, who helped me get it done :)

Pre-sale discount available for 1 week! Book itself launches in about ~2 weeks:
https://t.co/UqX8OnIQX4

PS! Book is only in Estonian!

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

Just helped create the stunning Ryoji Ikeda exhibition in Tartu! Visitors can dive into the hypnotic fusion of science and art, with genetic data from the Estonian population and our institute's data reimagined through LED screens and mirrors 🧬
#RyojiIkeda #ERM #Tartu2024

[Kaur Alasoo @kauralasoo]

I won't be attending #ASHG24 this year, but do check out this cool talk from @jcbarret @NgaleHealth that also contains some results from our two most recent preprints.

[Erik Abner @GenomicsDoge]

@doctorveera Thanks for the summary!
PS! The Nightingale sumstats are available on GWAS catalog ftp and can also be seen here:
https://t.co/9uKMNJ8JmE ;)