Genome Medicine (Sep 2017)

Creating a data resource: what will it take to build a medical information commons?

  • Patricia A. Deverka,
  • Mary A. Majumder,
  • Angela G. Villanueva,
  • Margaret Anderson,
  • Annette C. Bakker,
  • Jessica Bardill,
  • Eric Boerwinkle,
  • Tania Bubela,
  • Barbara J. Evans,
  • Nanibaa’ A. Garrison,
  • Richard A. Gibbs,
  • Robert Gentleman,
  • David Glazer,
  • Melissa M. Goldstein,
  • Hank Greely,
  • Crane Harris,
  • Bartha M. Knoppers,
  • Barbara A. Koenig,
  • Isaac S. Kohane,
  • Salvatore La Rosa,
  • John Mattison,
  • Christopher J. O’Donnell,
  • Arti K. Rai,
  • Heidi L. Rehm,
  • Laura L. Rodriguez,
  • Robert Shelton,
  • Tania Simoncelli,
  • Sharon F. Terry,
  • Michael S. Watson,
  • John Wilbanks,
  • Robert Cook-Deegan,
  • Amy L. McGuire

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-017-0476-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 5

Abstract

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Abstract National and international public–private partnerships, consortia, and government initiatives are underway to collect and share genomic, personal, and healthcare data on a massive scale. Ideally, these efforts will contribute to the creation of a medical information commons (MIC), a comprehensive data resource that is widely available for both research and clinical uses. Stakeholder participation is essential in clarifying goals, deepening understanding of areas of complexity, and addressing long-standing policy concerns such as privacy and security and data ownership. This article describes eight core principles proposed by a diverse group of expert stakeholders to guide the formation of a successful, sustainable MIC. These principles promote formation of an ethically sound, inclusive, participant-centric MIC and provide a framework for advancing the policy response to data-sharing opportunities and challenges.