Formation 2004 Official language English | Purpose population genetics | |
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Headquarters McGill University Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal (Canada) | ||
P3G (Public Population Project in Genomics and Society) is a not-for-profit international consortium dedicated to facilitating collaboration between researchers and biobanks working in the area of human population genomics. P3G is member-based and composed of experts from the different disciplines in the areas of and related to genomics, including epidemiology, law, ethics, technology, biomolecular science, etc. P3G and its members are committed to a philosophy of information sharing with the goal of supporting researchers working in areas that will improve the health of people around the world.
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The Organization
P3G is a not-for-profit organization with members from over 40 countries. Membership falls under two different categories: Institutional and Individual. Institutional members have the right to elect and vote the board of directors of P³G, and all members are eligible for office.
P3G is headquartered in the McGill University Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal (Canada).
Online
P3G works with its members and other experts to develop tools, methods and resources designed to optimize and harmonize the infrastructures of biobanks and research projects in the areas of population genomics, epidemiology and the environment. The P3G site is completely free and accessible, and all documents, web sites and tools included on the site are non-commercial and open source. Such tools include:
Toolkit - provides the epidemiological, ethical, statistical and IT instruments necessary to the access and use of data. The aim of this platform is to create a one-stop location and open access environment, where key documents are accessible to the research community. The TOOLKIT currently contains over 80 tools across five categories (Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Sample collection and processing, Data collection and processing, GE3LS, other tools).
Lifespan - an open access web platform offering users a step-by-step approach for the development and maintenance of a biobank or a research project within a definitive funding timeline.
HUB - provides an online agora for all those interested in genetic and genomic research, allowing for ongoing discussion, exchange and collaboration on research projects.
Training - provides researchers in the biobanking field with pertinent and up-to-date training opportunities
Catalogs - currently provide information on large population-based biobanks. Over 160 studies, spanning all continents, are presently listed in the database, and this index is regularly updated and curated to include relevant studies.
Meetings
In addition, P3G bring its members together at meetings in different cities around the world. These gatherings provide members with a unique opportunity to identify and address the challenges the community faces, share innovative strategies and work on new research tools. P3G Meetings have been held in the following cities:
IPAC
The IPAC (International Policy interoperability and data Access Clearinghouse) resource both promotes the interoperability of international norms and facilitates the sharing of clinical and research data. Building on the expertise of P3G, the IPAC offers a “one-stop” service for national and international collaborative research projects, along with normative tools and frameworks that respect the laws and regulations of each country while facilitating access. http://www.p3g.org/ipac
IPAC Researchers
Founded on the experience of the P3G Research Platforms, the IPAC team includes the international expertise of ELSI (ethical/legal/social) research professionals.
Domains: Regenerative Medicine; Gene Therapy; Cancer; Paediatrics; Incompetent Adults; Deceased Persons; Rare Diseases; Bioethics/Law.
Issues: Biobanking; Consent; Access (Data/Samples); Commercialization; Confidentiality/Privacy; Research Ethics; Governance.
Proficiency in: English; French; Spanish; Arabic; Mandarin.
IPAC Services:
I. Data/Sample Collection - ELSI Interoperability
IPAC offers the following interoperability services:
II. DACO - Review of Data and Samples Access Request/Authorization and Compliance
III. P3G DataTrust
Due to concerns surrounding the return of clinically significant results to research participants in the context of translational projects, P3G has developed the DataTrust (DT) service. This service supports the process of re-contacting participants and returning individual-level results in translational research projects, when appropriate. The DataTrust (DT) proposes to provide P3G as an honest and independent, third party broker to act as the key holder of personal information and associated unique ID (codes). P3G-DT safeguards the independence of the research project team, while enhancing ethical compliance with privacy and confidentiality standards in the research setting.
Finance and History
P3G was incorporated in 2004 under the leadership of Bartha Knoppers and Dr. Thomas Hudson, and was established by and for researchers working in the area of population genetics. P3G is funded by Genome Quebec and Genome Canada, as well as other funding agencies.