Archive Site Provided for Historical Purposes
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program
Human Genome News, January 1991; 2(5)
Genome-related research in France today involves more than 67 laboratories and some 500 researchers, engineers, and technicians working for public research agencies and universities, according to Hubert Curien, Minister of Research and Technology.
In outlining the French Human Genome Research Program to the Council of Ministers at its October 17, 1990, meeting, Curien said that to date the government has appropriated 150 million francs ($30 million) for human genome research; in 1990 funding by the Research and Technology Fund (Fonds de la Recherche et de la Technologie) included the following allocations:
To spur research efforts on human gene analysis, France is launching this month a formal national human genome research program, piloted by a special committee called a Groupement d'Interet Public (GIP). In addition to the funds already allocated, the committee will have at its disposal 50 million francs ($10 million) in 1991 and 100 million francs ($20 million) annually, beginning in 1992. In total, France has pledged 200 million francs ($40 million) for human genome research in 1991 and 250 million francs ($50 million) in 1992.
Presided over by a leading scientist, GIP will be an autonomous body that will coordinate planning and execution of laboratory research projects and organize international cooperation, notably with other European countries and the United States. Its executive board will be composed of participating industrialists and representatives of concerned research agencies and involved ministries, such as Research, Health, National Education, and Industry. The executive board will be assisted by a scientific board charged with defining programs and evaluating research projects and their results. A GIP subcommittee will oversee the program's medical, technological, and economic applications.
France will concentrate research activity on the genome's coding regions, only 5 to 10% of the genome. To this end, authorities plan to:
In parallel with human DNA research, genomes of model organisms such as bacteria and yeast will be analyzed in an effort to understand the mechanisms of gene expression and species evolution.
Because of the program's ethical, legal, and social implications, the French National Ethics committee (Comite National d'Ethique) has already been consulted and will be kept informed regarding new data arising from human genome research.
Reported by Michele Durand
Science Attache, French Embassy
Washington, D.C.
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v2n5).
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.
Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.