Strengthening GE³LS Integration & Making it Meaningful

Integration of GE³LS-related disciplines and perspectives into large-scale projects helps researchers anticipate, up front, legitimate concerns, needs and expectations of stakeholders. This works to ensure that scientific progress is socially responsible, well-balanced and aligned with publics' values and aspirations – both present and future generations. GE³LS researchers work alongside their scientific peers to combine the knowledge, skills and capacity needed across the full spectrum of natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. These interdisciplinary teams are well poised to study and address the broader societal implications of genomics – from its scientific discovery in the laboratory to its ultimate uptake and application in practice – making this one of the most critical elements of the National GE³LS Strategy.

In an effort to strengthen the GE³LS integration model, several active steps have been taken during the past 18-24 months at Genome Canada in collaboration with the Genome Centres.

• Integrated GE³LS projects now have greater visibility than they have had in the past. All integrated GE³LS research projects from Competition III and the ABC Competition are now summarized and easily accessible on Genome Canada's new GE³LS website. This gives integration a "public face" and helps raise awareness of the important contribution integrated GE³LS can make to facilitate the success of genomics research and its applications in practice.
• Integrated GE³LS projects are now also included in Genome Canada's new GE³LS research database and search engine, "CANADA GE³LS". This new virtual tool is intended to assist genomics researchers identify which GE³LS researchers are working on issues related to their prospective projects so as to encourage upstream formation of well-integrated teams. This tool can also promote connectivity within the GE³LS community itself, encouraging collaborations between researchers working in different GE³LS disciplines.
• The 2^nd issue of Impact (Genome Canada's new e-newsletter) was specifically dedicated to the theme of GE³LS integration. Feature stories highlighted the outcomes of some of the integrated GE³LS projects from Competition III as they draw to the end. Also featured was a prospective view of the "next generation" of GE³LS integration through the eyes of the "VALGEN" team, as they launch the next large-scale GE³LS project awarded through the ABC Competition.
• The application guidelines and peer review criteria for GE³LS integration in the Large-Scaled Applied Genomics Research Competition 2010 have been significantly clarified to help guide applicants as they prepare their proposals. Prospective applicants can also refer to several new resources now available on Genome Canada's website for further guidance: helpful FAQ's on what is (or is not) effective GE³LS integration, and examples of past integrated GE³LS projects summarized on the website, and in the CanadaGE³LS research database.
• On special invitation by the Journal on Accountability in Research, Genome Canada staff submitted a paper entitled, "Studying Genomics and its Implications for Society: Some 'Made-in-Canada' Options for Improving Integration". Intended for publication in a Special Edition on "Genomics Research" and targeted for a broad international audience, this paper describes the evolution of Genome Canada's leadership in the GE³LS arena, and explores different conceptual models for strengthening science-society integration efforts in the future.

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