China gets on board with the Human Variome Project

The Human Variome Project received a significant boost this week with the Chinese government announcing it will establish a new US$300 million institute to directly contribute to the project and the study of human genetic variation.

As a part of the 10 year agreement, China will not only found a new institute, but will construct, maintain and curate a new database with at least at least 5,000 new genes/disease specific genetic variations.

It will also establish the Human Variome Project Chinese Node to capture and share information on genetic variation within China's population, which amounts to around 1.4 billion people.

China will also assist global databases of genetic variation and will contribute US$20 million over 10 years to assist global coordinating activities.

The Human Variome Project was founded by Professor Richard Cotton, the Project’s Scientific Director and a Professorial Fellow of the University of Melbourne, in 2006, and aims to catalogue and make available information about human genetic variation, particularly those that affect health.

The ultimate goal of the Project is to integrate the systematic collection and sharing of genetic variant information into routine clinical practice.

“This is an unprecedented step forward for the field of genetic health,” said Cotton. "By committing this level of funds directly to achieving the vision of the Human Variome Project, China has shown the world that not only do they recognise genetic disease as a serious global health issue, but that they are serious about addressing it.”

The Human Variome Project has received support from the European Commission, which awarded European Project Members €12 million in 2007, and the Victorian state government recently announced $2.5 million to contribute towards the project's coordination to help keep its headquarters in Australia.

Sir Gustav Nossal, is a long term supporter of the Project. “We are all interested in what makes up a person – but we’re even more interested in what makes people different. That’s one of the reasons we’re all so fascinated by identical twins: we marvel at the likeness.

"Well the reasons for differences between people are mutations in the genes. That’s why we need to study mutations. We need the Human Variome Project. This is not just an academic exercise.

"When we know what gene has gone wrong in a disease we can soon find and study the relevant protein and possibly devise a prophylactic approach, or even a cure.”