World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Genetics

D-Index
73
Citations
35720
World Ranking
2003
National Ranking
11

Overview

Agnar Helgason is affiliated with the University of Iceland in Iceland and has contributed extensively to research in the fields of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, as well as medicine. Their work encompasses various subfields including genetics, molecular biology, infectious diseases, pathology and forensic medicine, and neurology.

The scientist's research topics cover a wide spectrum, focusing on:

  • Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
  • Genetic diversity and population structure
  • SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Genomics and Rare Diseases
  • Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Genetic Syndromes and Imprinting
  • Forensic and Genetic Research

Agnar Helgason has a significant publication record with frequent appearances in prominent journals such as:

  • Nature
  • Nature Genetics
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Nature Communications
  • New England Journal of Medicine

Among the recent papers authored are:

  • "Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the Icelandic Population" (2020) published in New England Journal of Medicine
  • "Large-scale integration of the plasma proteome with genetics and disease" (2021) published in Nature Genetics
  • "Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland" (2020) published in New England Journal of Medicine
  • "The sequences of 150,119 genomes in the UK Biobank" (2022) published in Nature
  • "Large-scale plasma proteomics comparisons through genetics and disease associations" (2023) published in Nature

Collaboration has been an integral part of their research activities. Frequent co-authors include:

  • Kāri Stefánsson
  • Daníel F. Guðbjartsson
  • Patrick Sulem
  • Unnur Þorsteinsdóttir
  • Ólafur Þ. Magnússon

Best Publications

  • Variant of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene confers risk of type 2 diabetes.

    Struan F. A. Grant;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Inga Reynisdottir;Rafil Benediktsson

  • Rate of de novo mutations and the importance of father’s age to disease risk

    Augustine Kong;Michael L. Frigge;Gisli Masson;Soren Besenbacher;Soren Besenbacher

  • Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the Icelandic Population.

    Daniel F Gudbjartsson;Agnar Helgason;Hakon Jonsson;Olafur T Magnusson

  • Genetics of gene expression and its effect on disease

    Valur Emilsson;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Bin Zhang;Amy S. Leonardson

  • Variants conferring risk of atrial fibrillation on chromosome 4q25

    Daniel F Gudbjartsson;David O Arnar;Anna Helgadottir;Solveig Gretarsdottir

  • Genome-wide association study identifies a second prostate cancer susceptibility variant at 8q24.

    Julius Gudmundsson;Patrick Sulem;Andrei Manolescu;Laufey T Amundadottir

  • Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in Iceland.

    Daniel F Gudbjartsson;Gudmundur L Norddahl;Pall Melsted;Kristbjorg Gunnarsdottir

  • A common variant associated with prostate cancer in European and African populations

    Laufey T. Amundadottir;Patrick Sulem;Julius Gudmundsson;Agnar Helgason

  • A common inversion under selection in Europeans

    Hreinn Stefansson;Agnar Helgason;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir

  • Common variants on chromosomes 2q35 and 16q12 confer susceptibility to estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

    Simon N Stacey;Andrei Manolescu;Patrick Sulem;Thorunn Rafnar

  • Genetic determinants of hair, eye and skin pigmentation in Europeans.

    Patrick Sulem;Daniel F Gudbjartsson;Simon N Stacey;Agnar Helgason

  • Two variants on chromosome 17 confer prostate cancer risk, and the one in TCF2 protects against type 2 diabetes

    Julius Gudmundsson;Patrick Sulem;Valgerdur Steinthorsdottir;Jon T. Bergthorsson

  • The nature of nurture: Effects of parental genotypes.

    Augustine Kong;Augustine Kong;Augustine Kong;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Michael L. Frigge;Bjarni J. Vilhjalmsson;Bjarni J. Vilhjalmsson

  • Large-scale whole-genome sequencing of the Icelandic population

    Daniel F Gudbjartsson;Hannes Helgason;Sigurjon A Gudjonsson;Florian Zink

  • Large-scale integration of the plasma proteome with genetics and disease.

    Egil Ferkingstad;Patrick Sulem;Bjarni A Atlason;Gardar Sveinbjornsson

  • Clonal hematopoiesis, with and without candidate driver mutations, is common in the elderly.

    Florian Zink;Simon N. Stacey;Gudmundur L. Norddahl;Michael L. Frigge

  • Parental influence on human germline de novo mutations in 1,548 trios from Iceland

    Hákon Jónsson;Patrick Sulem;Birte Kehr;Snaedis Kristmundsdottir

  • Fine-scale recombination rate differences between sexes, populations and individuals

    Augustine Kong;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Daniel F. Gudbjartsson;Gisli Masson

  • Refining the impact of TCF7L2 gene variants on type 2 diabetes and adaptive evolution

    Agnar Helgason;Snæbjörn Pálsson;Snæbjörn Pálsson;Gudmar Thorleifsson;Struan F A Grant;Struan F A Grant

  • Polygenic risk scores for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder predict creativity

    Robert A Power;Stacy Steinberg;Gyda Bjornsdottir;Cornelius A Rietveld

Frequent Co-Authors

Kari Stefansson
Kari Stefansson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Unnur Thorsteinsdottir
Unnur Thorsteinsdottir deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Daniel F. Gudbjartsson
Daniel F. Gudbjartsson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Augustine Kong
Augustine Kong University of Oxford
Patrick Sulem
Patrick Sulem deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Gisli Masson
Gisli Masson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Bjarni V. Halldorsson
Bjarni V. Halldorsson Reykjavík University
Gudmar Thorleifsson
Gudmar Thorleifsson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Jeffrey R. Gulcher
Jeffrey R. Gulcher deCODE Genetics (Iceland)
Sigurjon A. Gudjonsson
Sigurjon A. Gudjonsson deCODE Genetics (Iceland)

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring Genetics in the USA often opens the door to a variety of related online degrees and healthcare career options. Many programs now offer flexible online learning formats, making it more convenient than ever to advance your education without the need to relocate or disrupt your schedule.

For nurses looking to boost their credentials, an rn to bsn program without clinicals could be an ideal next step, providing a pathway to further study in genetics or molecular research. Those aiming for leadership roles might consider accelerated msn to dnp programs, which offer advanced knowledge with a faster completion time.

If you’re just starting out in the healthcare field, fast medical assistant programs can provide swift entry to hands-on roles that may lead to further genetic studies. Meanwhile, practicing nurses can opt for online dnp programs without clinicals, offering more academic flexibility and fewer on-site requirements.

These online pathways are designed to accommodate students with different goals, making it easier to enter or advance within the expanding field of Genetics and healthcare.

Best Scientists Citing Agnar Helgason

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles