BMC Genomics, 2008

Background: Over the past two decades, genomics has evolved as a scientific research discipline. Genomics research was fueled initially by government and nonprofit funding sources, later augmented by private research and development (R&D) funding. Citizens and taxpayers of many countries have funded much of the research, and have expectations about access to the resulting information and knowledge. While access to knowledge gained from all publicly funded research is desired, access is especially important for fields that have broad social impact and stimulate public dialogue. Genomics is one such field, where public concerns are raised for reasons such as health care and insurance implications, as well as personal and ancestral identification. Thus, genomics has grown rapidly as a field, and attracts considerable interest.

SCRIPT-ed, 2008

2007

This document presents the agenda of the Centre for Society and Genomics (CSG) for the period 2008-2012. During the past 2, 5 years, CSG has developed a national and international programme for research and public interaction concerning the relationship between society and genomics. The plans for 2008-2012 not only include the activities of CSG as such. Rather, they involve the societal research projects and communication and education activities of all Genomics Centres funded by NGI:

1995

Science, 2003

Planning the Genome Institute's Future ELIZABETH PENNISI'S ARTICLE "GENOME institute wrestles mightily with its future" (News Focus, 29 Nov., p. 1694), on the National Human Genome Research Institute's recent meeting to unveil its draft plan for its future, missed the mark in capturing the accomplishments and tenor of the meeting. Approximately 200 participants with diverse areas of expertise were invited to critically assess and provide input on all aspects of NHGRI's ambitious, comprehensive, and farreaching draft plan. The dissension over the plan had less to do with the content and more to do with the format of the presentation. The attendees were excited about the vision of the future that was described but argued that there needed to be a clearer articulation of the priorities, timeline, and NHGRI's degree of involvement. The draft plan centered around three pillars: (i) Genomics to Biology: Elucidating the Structure and Function of Genomes, (ii) Genomics to Health: Translating Genome-Based Knowledge into Health Benefits, and (iii) Genomics to Society: Promoting the Use of Genomics to Benefit Society. There was consensus that the representation of the plan as pillars did not work-pillars were viewed as overly rigid and noninteracting. During the meeting, this representation of the plan was successfully reworked. The pillars became three floors of a house, resting on a foundation of the Human Genome Project, with "Genomics to Society" on top. Key components then stretched across multiple floors: "ELSI and Policy," "Education," "Workforce," "Technology and Methods," "Information Science," and "Resources." NHGRI is to be commended for seeking input from a diverse group of stakeholders. It is only through such discussions and thoughtful strategic planning that society will realize the scientific and public health benefits of the Human Genome Project.

2007

Abstract: Today, bio-scientific research and commercialisation are considered to be critical for improving a number of areas of social and economic life. Especially in the sector of human healthcare, the recent developments in life sciences and biotechnology appear to constitute the main driving force of change. The most important characteristic of the new paradigm of technological change and innovation in life sciences is the close collaboration between all actors involved, including companies and research institutes, public policy initiatives and regional impacts. This paper examines in depth the complex collaborative relationships between public policy, public research and private firms in genomics and biotechnology, focusing on the cases of Cambridge and Scotland. It is argued that although these relationships are uneven and contradictory in both regions, they play significant roles in building firm-based and policy-making capabilities. Therefore, public-private collaborations i...

GigaScience, 2014

The co-authors of this paper hereby state their intention to work together to launch the Genomic Observatories Network (GOs Network) for which this document will serve as its Founding Charter. We define a Genomic Observatory as an ecosystem and/or site subject to long-term scientific research, including (but not limited to) the sustained study of genomic biodiversity from single-celled microbes to multicellular organisms.An international group of 64 scientists first published the call for a global network of Genomic Observatories in January 2012. The vision for such a network was expanded in a subsequent paper and developed over a series of meetings in Bremen (Germany), Shenzhen (China), Moorea (French Polynesia), Oxford (UK), Pacific Grove (California, USA), Washington (DC, USA), and London (UK). While this community-building process continues, here we express our mutual intent to establish the GOs Network formally, and to describe our shared vision for its future. The views expres...

Today, bio-scientific research and commercialisation are considered to be critical for improving a number of areas of social and economic life. Especially in the sector of human healthcare, the recent developments in life sciences and biotechnology appear to constitute the main driving force of change. The most important characteristic of the new paradigm of technological change and innovation in life sciences is the close collaboration between all actors involved, including companies and research institutes, public policy initiatives and regional impacts. This paper examines in depth the complex collaborative relationships between public policy, public research and private firms in genomics and biotechnology, focusing on the cases of Cambridge and Scotland. It is argued that although these relationships are uneven and contradictory in both regions, they play significant roles in building firm-based and policy-making capabilities. Therefore, public-private collaborations in genomics and biotechnology are inevitable for regional innovation and development within the contemporary capitalist knowledge-based economy.

2009

Joint Genomic Center is a new initiative for the efficient establishment of public/private partnership. In December 2006 the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the Agricultural Academy agreed to create jointly a Genomic Center on the principles of the Limited liability Company. It is the first initiative of this kind that joins the scientific efforts of such institutions with the aim to meet mostly the needs of the private sector.