NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – In an effort to map out its role in supporting genomics research over the coming years, the National Human Genome Research Institute has posted three white papers on its website and is asking for feedback from the research community on those papers.
The institute said that since its inception it has been “guided by a series of plans that have laid out ambitious goals and provided measurable objectives to gauge progress.” It noted that it began its last planning process seven years ago, which culminated in the paper, “Vision for the Future of Human Genome Research,” published in the journal Nature in April 2003.
The institute is now seeking to “kickstart a conversation among our community” through the three white papers that address several relevant topics: diagnostics, preventative medicine and pharmacogenomics; therapeutics; and education and community engagement.
In the first phase of the planning process, NHGRI is seeking comments now through Jan. 30, 2009, on the papers. It said that it will collect thoughts solely on the questions posed in the papers. The second phase will run from mid-February 2009 through mid-April 2009, and will collect responses to questions that are refined following the first phase.
The comments NHGRI collects will be anonymously posted for viewing and will be used to generate topics for further planning activities and workshops, which the institute will hold in 2009 and 2010.
More information about the white papers and NHGRI’s long-range planning is available here.