Generating solutions

The 2012 Genome Canada Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition – Genomics and Personalized Health (GAPH) funded 17 projects. Each project integrates technology assessment and social science and humanities research under the banner of the signature Genome Canada GE³LS initiative (i.e. Genomics and its Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal and Social aspects).

In 2016, Genome Canada announced funding for a network to bring together GE³LS researchers from all 17 projects. The Network will enable the projects to share best practices; improve and prime future collaborative research; accelerate the progress to market of GAPH technologies; and maximize the impact of investment in the GAPH projects.

The Network will address four priority GE³LS themes: research ethics review; health economics and health technology assessment; knowledge transfer and implementation in health systems for ‘omics technologies; and intellectual property and commercialization.

This $2 million initiative is designed to accelerate the translation of research results into practical applications in healthcare for the benefit of Canadians. The Government of Canada, through Genome Canada, is investing $1 million in the Network, with the balance of funding to be secured from co-funders.

Objectives for each Network theme were outlined by GE³LS and science representatives from each of the 17 projects at a workshop in April 2015. A Network Management Team (Network co-leads and theme leads) will monitor progress on each objective.

By identifying and directing research to overarching issues that emerge from the GE³LS components of the 17 projects, the Network will accelerate their common goal of transforming research results into practical applications adopted by health systems for the benefit of patients.