11.07.2017// Lena Dolman, Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH)

Genomic data sharing to advance human health: perspectives from the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH)

​Human genomics is currently undergoing a shift whereby the majority of whole exomes and genomes will soon be coming from clinical, rather than research, settings. If we can successfully harness this global wealth of genomic data, researchers could have a virtual cohort of >60 million individuals available for study by 2025. However, technical and regulatory barriers and the existence of ‘data silos’ continue to prevent clinicians and researchers from deriving maximal benefit from data sources. The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH), formed in 2013, is an international not-for-profit consortium aiming to provide solutions for effective and responsible sharing of genomic and health-related data. The GA4GH community comprises >500 leading institutions around the world working in health care, research, life sciences and information technology, and patient advocacy. Through the development of technical standards and the harmonization of policy approaches, GA4GH strives to facilitate sharing that will advance genomic discovery and human health. This presentation will introduce the audience to GA4GH and its activities, discuss challenges and opportunities in genomic data sharing, and highlight current initiatives that are already demonstrating the value of sharing data (including the Matchmaker Exchange, the BRCA Exchange, and the Beacon Network).

11:30-12:30 BioSci Rm. 3110
Ms. Dolman's seminar is a joint presentation to the MCIB seminar series and to the graduate students in Biol. 820 (Commercialization of Biological Research)