Vice President Unveils Collaboration Project to Share Genomic and Clinical Data

On June 6, 2016, during the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Vice President Joe Biden unveiled the Genomic Data Commons (GDC) project. The goal of the project is to facilitate sharing of genomic and clinical data and promote advances in personalized cancer treatment. The project, which will be funded by the National Cancer Institute, will have an operations center at the University of Chicago.

Biden noted that there is urgency in finding cures for other diseases, such as Ebola, and that this type of urgency is what is needed in the fight against cancer. He also asked for help in supporting cancer research, early detection, and access to treatment. Biden stated that he hoped that by sharing data, more progress against cancer can be made, noting that “no single oncologist can find the answer on his or her own.” For more on the vice-president’s speech, click here.