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Toronto, June 17, 2010 – The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) has announced the launch of a new $10,000 prize to promote and recognize research reflecting integrative and inter-disciplinary approaches to characterizing the societal issues, outcomes and impacts of genomics projects.   

The OGI Societal Impact of Genomics (SIG) Prize, the first of its kind, will be awarded based on an annual competitive evaluation – by a multi-disciplinary panel of experts – of submitted candidate publications authored by one or more Ontario-based researchers. 

The focus of this prize arises out of interest in addressing questions that naturally arise, both in carrying out genomics research and in contemplating the development of applications based on the research and aimed at creating benefit.  For example:  When patients are signing consent forms for their blood or tissue to be used in genomics research, how narrowly or broadly defined should the potential use be?   If - as personalized medicine evolves - biomarkers arising out of analysis of human genetic variation lead to prognostic tests that reduce and more effectively focus use of medicines in a specific subset of the population, how will the economic incentives to sell prognostic tests be balanced against the economic incentives to sell medicines?  As our ability increases to engineer specialized foods and industrial microbes with individual genes or groupings of genes that do not occur in nature, what public policies need to be established governing the deployment of such organisms for research and development purposes as well as, ultimately, general availability for use or consumption in less controlled environments?

The commitment to ask and begin answering these questions, and particularly to provide support for the research community to address them, was relatively unique to the origins of the Human Genome Project (though similar support and focus has been, for example, associated with research and development on nanotechnology).   In the US, the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Research Program was established in 1990 as an integral part of the Human Genome Project to foster basic and applied  research on the ethical, legal and social implications of genomics research for individuals, families and communities.  ELSI currently funds and manages studies, and supports workshops, research consortia and policy conferences related to these topics.  Similarly, European funding organizations have developed the research sub-area ELSA – Ethical, Legal and Social Aspects of the Life Sciences and Technologies, which is similarly aimed at analyzing the ethical and social issues raised by genomics research. 
 
Ten years ago, as the era of genomics was being ushered into Canada with significant public investments, the scientific community working with various stakeholders involved in establishing Genome Canada decided that it would also be very important for Canadian genomics research to carry forward a vigorous and integrated focus on issues of societal impact and benefit.  This focus was designated as Genomics-related Economic, Environmental, Ethical, Legal and Social issues (GE3LS).   Genome Canada and the six regional genome centres have, in building up their portfolios of funded projects and operational activities, carried this focus forward.  OGI-funded research projects are required to include a GE3LS research component in which researchers from the social sciences and humanities (e.g. economists, ethicists or legal scholars) work with the life science and engineering scientists to explore relevant GE3LS topics.

“It is increasingly important to probe at the issues, outcomes and impacts at the interface between society and the leading edge of natural science,” commented Dr. Christian Burks, President and CEO of OGI.  “The scientific strategies, underlying technologies and marketplaces in which invention and innovation are shaped and delivered are evolving rapidly; interdisciplinary and integrated approaches to characterizing the threats and opportunities is thus of paramount importance.  This prize is meant to highlight and celebrate the best examples of such research.”

“The general public, who pays for publicly-funded research and is ultimately affected by its outcomes, is eager to understand research and ensure it is carried out in a well-balanced and socially-responsible way,” commented Ms. Patricia Kosseim, Chief GE3LS Officer, Genome Canada.  “OGI’s Societal Impact of Genomics Prize is a great example of an initiative that recognizes researchers who come together from multiple perspectives to address the broader implications of research and its potential societal impacts.”

“This is an important initiative,” observed Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell (President, Council of Canadian Academies, and a member of OGI’s Board of Directors).  “Interdisciplinary work is to be encouraged, as we too often work in silos.  Such approaches should build a greater and more flexible capacity for examining the approach to and impact of genomics research.”

Applications for the SIG prize are accepted from Ontario researchers currently or previously funded by OGI.  The first deadline for application submission is January 30, 2011.

For more information on the SIG prize and application details, visit:  http://www.ontariogenomics.ca/research/ogi-societal-impact-genomics-sig-prize 

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About OGI
The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) is a private, not-for-profit corporation focused on using world-class research to create strategic genomics resources and accelerate Ontario’s development of a globally-competitive life sciences sector.  Through its relationship with Genome Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI), and other private and public sector partners, OGI works to: identify, attract and support investment in Ontario-led genomics research; catalyze access to and the impact of genomics resources; and, raise the visibility of genomics as well as its impact and associated issues.  
For more information on OGI, please visit www.OntarioGenomics.ca

OGI media enquiries:
Alastair Harris-Cartwright
Corporate Communications Manager
T: +1 (416) 673-6582
E: aharriscartwright@OntarioGenomics.ca