MORGEN & data release policies: an overview.

AuthorPower, Cheryl
PositionCanada
  1. Abstract

    In this paper I preliminarily examine Genome Canada's data release policy, (1) and patenting as a form of data release. Through a summary of several interesting case studies, I illustrate a sample of data release approaches that are currently in use by various consortia. I note that Genome Canada through their policy continues to try and strike a balance between the values of science and commercialization. For instance, data release policies in general have different impacts, one being the active free flow of scientific information. As well, there are a range of concerns about publicly disclosing such information and how effective these measures actually are when we think about long term goals surrounding translation and commercialization.

  2. Introduction

    The MORGEN (2) G[E.sup.3]LS team is looking at the implications of data release policies in general, as well as specifically upon the products of genomic research, for the MORGEN project. The MORGEN project includes a study of the regulation of gene expression and how it specifies organogenesis, through studying development of the heart, liver and pancreas in the mouse embryo. This project follows on a previous project, the Mouse Atlas of Gene Expression, that deposited research results to a website. (3) Many such policies have emphasized the need for specific tailoring of data release for areas such as gene expression analysis. The Genome Canada data release policy specifically applicable to the MORGEN project notes a range of potential avenues for data release including: publishing; patents; researcher's publicly and freely accessible sources (website); data archives; open source archives; and depositing into strain collections. In order to better understand the alternatives provided by Genome Canada, we are also considering several policies set forth by other funding agencies.

  3. Patenting as a form of Data Release

    Patenting is listed as a form of data release. The Genome Canada data release policy states that data must be released no later than the date that the patent (including provisional patents) has been applied for, and there is a provision to apply for delays beyond this. As such, patenting as a form of data release is actually keyed toward the actual application/provisional stage rather than the stage of issued patent. In this respect, there is a difference between the Genome Canada policy and the policy of similar funding agencies. In Genome Canada's policy, you can...

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