P³G (Public Population Project in Genomics and Society) is a

not-for-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

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 Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evidenc ...

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

ethics Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concerns m ...

technology Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, science, ...

, 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 Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

of people around the world.

The Organization

P³G is a

not-for-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

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 A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

of P³G, and all members are eligible for office. P³G is

headquartered Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top ...

in the McGill University Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal (

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

Scientific Activities

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 Population genomics is the large-scale comparison of DNA sequences of populations. Population genomics is a neologism that is associated with population genetics. Population genomics studies genome-wide effects to improve our understanding of micro ...

and the

environment Environment most often refers to: __NOTOC__ * Natural environment, all living and non-living things occurring naturally * Biophysical environment, the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism or ...

. 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 A meeting is when two or more Homo sapiens, people come together to discuss one or more topics, often in a formal or business setting, but meetings also occur in a variety of other environments. Meetings can be used as form of Decision-making, ...

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: *Montreal (Canada) May 2015 *Phoenix (USA) May 2015 *Helsinki (Finland) September 2014 *Indianapolis (USA) May 2014 *Paris (France) April 2014 *Graz (Austria) September 2013 *Montreal (Canada) Septembre 2013 *Paris (France) May 2013 *Uppsala (Sweden) September 2012 *Rotterdam (Netherlands) June 2012 *Montreal (Canada) April 2010, April 2011, October 2011 *Luxembourg September 2009 *Brussels (Belgium) March 2009 *Philadelphia (USA) November 2008 *Barcelona (Spain) May 2008 *San Diego (USA) October 2007 *Montreal (Canada) May 2007 *Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) October 2005 *Hinxton (UK) September 2005 *Helsinki (Finland) and Tallinn (Estonia) 2004 *Manchester (UK) 2003 *Montreal (Canada) July 2003

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: * International comparative analysis of consents (legacy/prospective collections) * Preparation of harmonized policies and consents for de novo projects * Advice on changes to consents/re-contact/return of results * Preparation of documents for IRB approvals including IP/publication policies * Preparation of templates for MTA’s and for customized access agreements * Validation of researcher (bona fides); institutional sign off; proposed data privacy security plans * Ad hoc ethics consultation * Preparation of international Codes of Conduct/Policies and Procedures * Independent review of access requests, and, * Ongoing monitoring and governance mechanisms 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 Bartha Maria Knoppers, OC OQ (born May 26, 1951) is a Canadian law Professor and an expert on the ethical aspects of genetics, genomics and biotechnology. Born in Hilversum, Netherlands, she received a Bachelor of Arts (French and English Liter ...

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 Genome Canada is a non-profit organization that aims to use genomics-based technologies to improve the lives of Canadians. It is funded by the Government of Canada. Genome Canada provides large-scale investments that develop new technologies, conne ...

, as well as other funding agencies.Genome Canada, Genome Quebec and Université de Montreal Launch P3G Consortium and CARTaGENE Project http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/72178.php

References

External links

P³G Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Public Population Project In Genomics Genomics Epidemiological study projects Bioethics