NCoEDG will be based on the operations in five virtual cores, built around special expertise of the groups. Each core has a scientific leader and expert scientists from the groups: The Nordic funding is applied to facilitate workshops, meetings and virtual interactions of these core groups. These groups of experts will also be responsible for the Nordic training programs and courses in their respective areas.

Core for molecular technologies (Leader Ulf Landegren):
This core will integrate the expertise in high-throughput technologies in genotyping, sequencing, and transcript profiling and make them accessible at the lowest cost for the investigators in the participating groups.

Core for medical expertise (Leader Leif Groop):
This core will collect information for the three selected traits at the highest clinical standards for reliable diagnosis and if possible for disease progress or severity.

Core for human genetics (Leader Leena Peltonen):
This core aims to bring all the accumulated experience in disease genetics within NCoEDG for use by all partners.

Core for animal genetics (Leader Leif Andersson):
This core will orchestrate the data collection and harmonization of the animal models to ensure that the full potential of comparative analysis is utilized to advance the molecular characterization of complex human traits.

Core for databases and biocomputing (Leaders Juha Kere and Juni Palmgren):
This core will coordinate the integration of the collected data and use of statistical, biocomputing and database tools.