Public Population Projects in Genomics

International Working GroupsWorking Meeting

September 19-20th, 2005, Hinxton, UK

Mission

• Dedicated to fostering collaboration between researchers and projects in the field of population genomics, P3G develops, in an open and transparent manner, research tools for effective collaboration between biobanks so as to enable the international research community to share expertise and resources and facilitate knowledge transfer for the health of populations.

Mandate

P3G aims to:• A) create a network in population genomics that will

comprise over 3 million participants for epidemiological studies;

• B) provide statistical power for analysing complex genetic and environmental determinants of health and disease;

• C) leverage the combined expertise of hundreds of researchers around the world;

• D) promote communication among national and international organizations; and

• E) increase the ability to share and generate new knowledge dedicated to improve public health and welfare.

Research objectives

• 1. Harmonize biological, medical, demographic and social data collected from participants to allow effective comparisons of datasets, and pooled/combined studies in order to increase statistical power of gene/environment analyses;

• 2. Share approaches to ethics, public engagement, governance and intellectual property issues;

• 3. Develop policies and strategies for effective translation of genetic data to health care systems in developed and developing countries; and

• 4. Promote multidisciplinary training initiatives in population genomics research (to include biomedical, social, ethical, and public health aspects).

P3G Organization ChartBoard of Directors

Steering Committee

IWGSocial,

Environmental. Biochemical Invest.

Secretariat

IWGKnowledge

Curation & IT

IWGEthics,

Governance & Public Engagement

CoreOBSERVATORY

Core

Core

Core

Core

Core

International Working Groups

• The role of the IWG is to :– (i) ensure coordination between the Cores under its

umbrella; – (ii) identify issues and monitor progress of research

activities & deliverables for P3G in accordance with the P3G strategic goals and;

– (iii) oversee the content to be included in the P3G Observatory.

International Working Groups (IWGs)

Social, Environmental andBiochemical Investigations

Leader:

H. Erich Wichmann (KORA-gen, Germany)

Initial focus on cardiovascular phenotypes and new technologies in phenotyping

Knowledge CurationAnd Information Technology

Leader:

Jan-Eric Litton (LifeGene, Sweden)

Initial focus on IT technology, nomenclature, and protocols for data sharing

Ethics, Governance and Public Engagement

Leader:

Alistair Kent (Genetic Interest Group, UK)

Initial focus on public engagement, governance, ethics, public policy and public health

Cores

• Principal work units of P3G, • Self-funded,• Focused on specific issues related to biobanks,

with full-time personnel having expertise in relation to population genomics and biobanks,

• Cores activities are reported to IWG regularly.

…Some objectives for today

• Start building tools for harmonization and sharing with international counter part, the expertise you have developed in population genomics

• Contribute to the further development and long term existence of P3G

• Get to know P3G members and their projects, and explore the full potential of an international collaboration in the field of population genomics