The Genome of Europe consortium places great importance on ethical, legal, and societal considerations. Therefore, its internal quality assurance, monitoring, and evaluation measures are enhanced by external expert advice and consultations through specialized advisory boards.

Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)

The SAB provides expert guidance, constructive feedback and strategic recommendations on the implementation and progress of the project. Through annual reports and ongoing engagement, the SAB supports the consortium in identifying and addressing potential challenges. SAB comprises of internationally renowned experts on genomics and public health, who will provide independent advice on GoE activities.

Through SAB Genome of Europe is supported by following renowned experts:

Professor Matthew Brown, Genomics England, UK                                                                                              Professor Manfred Kayser , Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands        Professor Stylianos Antonarakis, University of Geneva Medical School, Switzerland                              Professor Bartha M. Knoppers, McGill University, Canada

Ethics Advisory board (EAB)

Genome of Europe has establish an independent Ethics Advisory board that will ensure that ethics issues are monitored in a timely, thorough and independent manner. The board brings together expertise in areas such as research ethics involving biological samples, biobanking, data protection, and the broader ELSI dimensions of genomics research.

The EAB will produce Ethics Reports which will provide a holistic overview of how ethical concerns have been addressed for both legacy databases and new data collection, beyond only compliance with data protection regulations and citizen engagement activities

Through EAB Genome of Europe ethical aspects are monitored by following renowned experts:

Emeritus research director Anne Cambon-Thomsen, French National Center for Scientific Research; and, University of Toulouse, France                                                                                                                                    Dr Angus Clarke, Professor Emeritus in Clinical Genetics, Cardiff University School of Medicine                      Dr. Mónica Cano Abadía, BBMRI-ERIC, Austria.                                                                                              Professor David Townend, Professor of Health and Life Sciences Law and Associate Dean (Research and Innovation), The City Law School, City St George’s, University of London

Minority Advisory Board (MAB)

Genome of Europe has a goal to collect WGS data from 40 most common ancestries of citizens living in Europe + underrepresented minority groups. Europe’s rich genetic diversity, shaped by migrations and regional histories, necessitates the inclusion of minorities for an accurate representation of genetic complexities. Therefore an external advisory board will be set up on the involvement of minorities in order to engage with minority groups and to organize discussions to communicate, explain and also to receive feedback on the needs and concerns of minority groups.

MAB comprises of external experts who will advise GoE consortium on matters involving minority groups, e.g., population subgroups from non-EU countries and those not represented as a country within EU (e.g., Roma, Sinti and Sami).