AACR Project GENIE®
Driven by openness, transparency, and inclusion, AACR Project GENIE® is a publicly accessible pancancer registry of real-world clinico-genomic data assembled through data sharing between leading international cancer centers. Through the efforts of strategic partners Sage Bionetworks and cBioPortal, the registry aggregates, harmonizes, and links clinical-grade, next-generation cancer genomic sequencing data with clinical outcomes obtained during routine medical practice from nearly every cancer patient sequenced at these institutions. In an era where large quantities of clinico-omic data are held in private repositories, AACR Project GENIE® remains steadfast in its commitment to open access, advancing cancer research for the benefit of all.
Why AACR Project GENIE®?
Precision medicine requires an end-to-end learning health care system, wherein the treatment decisions for patients are informed by the prior experiences of similar patients. Oncology is currently leading the way as the genomic and other molecular characteristics of patients and their tumors are routinely collected at scale. A major challenge to precision medicine is a lack of sufficient data reflecting each patient’s experience with cancer. To overcome this challenge, AACR Past President Charles L. Sawyers of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, conceptualized GENIE in 2014. The AACR subsequently developed and launched Project GENIE in 2015, and continues to direct and support its continued operation.
About the American Association for Cancer Research®
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 62,600 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 143 countries and territories around the world. Presently, 34% of members live outside the United States and 20% of AACR’s international members are located in countries building cancer research capacity. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting. The AACR publishes 10 prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals. Other AACR publications include Cancer Today, a magazine for cancer patients and caregivers; the annual AACR Cancer Progress Report; AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report; AACR Annual Impact Report; Leading Discoveries, the AACR’s awareness and donor magazine; and the blog, Cancer Research Catalyst. In addition, the AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.