The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) was initiated in 2007 and founded in 2008 to coordinate research efforts into different types of cancer worldwide. All projects have the common aim of elucidating comprehensively the genomic changes present in many forms of cancers. The Consortium establishes a comprehensive database containing the catalogues of genomic abnormalities in tumors from 50 cancer types which are of clinical and societal importance across the globe. It will make the data available to the entire research community as fast as possible, and with minimal restrictions, to accelerate research into the causes and control of cancer. The hope is that new and individualized therapies with lesser undesirable side effects are developed from these research efforts.
Find out more about the ICGC at www.icgc.org