Science and Industry Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
Members
Introduction
Genome Canada's Science and Industry Advisory Committee (SIAC) has been established to
assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its objectives of excellence and leadership
in genomics[1] research and in the ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social
aspects (GE3LS) relating to this research in Canada, and provide to the Board
of Directors strategic advice on approaches and directions that contribute to the corporation's
achievement of its objectives.
SIAC is a permanent committee of the Board of Directors, and has been given the authority,
responsibility and specific duties as described below.
Authority
The Science and Industry Advisory Committee is constituted pursuant to By-Law 8
of the Corporation.
Membership
Membership's composition of SIAC shall consist of a minimum of nine to a maximum of 16 members,
including the Chair of the Committee. The Chair and members shall be appointed by the Board of
Directors upon receipt of advice from the Election Committee.
The composition of SIAC shall consist of individuals from Canada and abroad who are internationally
recognized in the science and industry sectors and in fields relevant to the ethical, environmental,
economic, legal and social aspects of genomics research.
Individual members shall be available from time to time to advise the officers and Board of Directors
of Genome Canada.
Terms
The Chair and members will normally be appointed for a term of two years, renewable once.
Honoraria
SIAC Members will receive an annual retainer in the amount of $3,000 CAD – payable on the
anniversary date of the appointment, and $1,000 CAD for each meeting attended. The Chair will
receive an annual retainer of $6,000 CAD – payable on the anniversary date of the
appointment, and $1,000 CAD for each meeting attended.
Meetings
The Science and Industry Advisory Committee shall normally meet a minimum of twice per year,
with additional meetings called at the request of the Committee Chair, an officer of Genome
Canada, or the Chair of the Board of Directors.
Quorum
Quorum shall be a majority of its members present at the meeting, in person or by telephone.
Mandate
The mandate of the Science and Industry Advisory Committee is to provide strategic advice,
to the Board of Directors of Genome Canada that will contribute to the corporation's
achievement of its objectives of excellence and leadership in genomics research and in
ethical, environmental, economic, legal and social issues (GE3LS) relating to this research
in Canada.
Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of the Committee are to provide advice and recommendations to the Genome Canada Board of Directors on the following:
- emerging scientific research opportunities and challenges and potential areas for investment in the area of genomics;
- international trends, developments and potential national and international collaborations;
- areas of strategic and socio-economic importance to Canada;
- application of the outcomes and results of genomics research, including, but not limited to commercialization,
knowledge transfer, policy development, and social and economic benefits;
- measuring and evaluating the outcomes and impact of the research; and,
- the quality of the research programs and activities of Genome Canada.
As well, the Committee shall:
- seek advice, as required, from expert consultants, or the stakeholder community through ad hoc working groups, conferences or workshops;
- respond to any matter that may be referred to the Committee by the Board of Directors, and act according to the nature of the referral;
- review the Committee's mandate and terms of reference on an annual basis; and,
- develop an annual work plan and associated budget.
Reporting
The Chair of the Science and Industry Advisory Committee will serve as an ex officio
advisor of the Board of Directors and will normally report to the Board on all of SIAC's
proceedings and recommendations since the last meeting of the Board of Directors.
Minutes of meetings will be submitted to the Board of Directors for purposes of information.
History
The Terms of Reference of the Science and Industry Advisory Committee were:
- Initially adopted by the Board on June 12, 2008
- Reviewed and amended by the Board on September 23, 2010
[1] The term genomics is defined here as the comprehensive study, using high throughput technologies, of the genetic information of a cell or organism, including the function of specific genes, their interactions with each other and the activation and suppression of genes by proteins. For purposes of describing Genome Canada's mandate it also includes related disciplines such as proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, pharmacogenomics, metagenomics and bioinformatics.
Back
