Invitation to join the International Cod Genomics Consortium

Because of your expertise and experience in cod research and/or culture, we invite you to join the newly formed International Cod Genomics Consortium (ICGC).

Background: Dr. Ole Torrissen, Director of the Marine Research Institute in Bergen Norway, Dr. Sjöfn Sigurisladóttir, General Director of the Iceland Fisheries Laboratory in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Dr. Laura Brown, Senior Research Officer, National Research Council of Canada's Institute for Marine Biosciences in Halifax, Canada, engaged in several discussions on proposed and current cod genomics research within their respective countries.

It was clear that the approaches taken by each country and the research and technological strengths were similar or at least complementary. Therefore it seemed logical to combine resources among the three countries, and discuss the possibilities of sharing information, data, and resources.

Ole, Sjöfn, and Laura organized an informal workshop to discuss their research, share ideas, and to identify areas of research where collaborative efforts would benefit all. The workshop was held in Reykjavik, Iceland, May 10-11, 2005. Participants were to leave the meeting with the following questions answered or with a plan on how to answer these questions:

1. What cod research is being conducted in each country, and by whom?
2. What are one or two specific research programs we can work together?
1. These may include sequencing the entire genome
1. What information, data, resources and material can we share?
2. How can we pay for these collaborative programs?
3. How will this international collaborative venture be structured, i.e., who is leading it and who is responsible for keeping us on track?

The three organizers wanted to maintain the informality of this workshop, in order that participants would feel comfortable in sharing information and bringing out ideas of how to develop an international cod genomics consortium.

Outcomes of the Workshop: All participants shared information freely, discussions were open and frank, and there was a general consensus that most of the challenges for the cod farming industry and the cod fisheries were the same in all three countries.

Some of the most pressing biological challenges were identified as:

* Early maturation
* Larval qualtiy and juvenile deformities
* Vaccines/immunity
* Wild/farmed interactions
* Markers for growth, fecundity, quality
* Tools to examine early nutrition and health
* Alternative feeds for grow-out
* Welfare issues and ethics with new technologies

Other issues that were raised included:

* How can researchers interact with industry - how can industry quickly use the results of research?
* IP issues
* Data release policies
* How can our existing programmes interact?
* Should we invited others?
* Shoud we sequence the entire genome?

Decisions: It was decided that we would form the International Cod Genomics Consortium, with the following draft mandate:

The Internation Cod Genomics Consortium (ICGC) is a group of researchers from Iceland, Norway and Canada, and other countries, who share a common interest in research on cod (Gadus morhua), using genomics and other biotechnologies. The ICGC will work together to develop a plan to sequence the entire genome of the cod. The ICGC will also develop processes and media whereby they can share data, information, resources and technology, so that our knowledge of the biology and genomics of the cod in order to help strengthen a growing and environmentally sustainable aquaculture industry and fishery. Specific areas of biological interest are: health, nutrition, reproductive fitness, broodstock markers and environmental sustainability. Genomics technologies that are in common include EST libraries, gene sequencing, proteomics, cDNA microarrays, cloning, cell culture. The ICGC will develop databases where information may be posted and downloaded. Other bioinformatics solutions will be developed. The ICGC will hold a workshop once a year to continue the information and network development process.

Next steps:

1. Participants of the workshop will be asked who else should be invited to join the ICGC.
2. IFL will develop a webpage where documents can be posted and downloaded by the ICGC members
3. ICGC members will be sent a questionnaire to gather more information about existing projects, major technologies used, libraries contstructed, etc.
4. A summary will be sent to all members.
5. A database will be developed to deposit sequences, clone information, challenge experiments, etc.
6. Funding and development of a plan for genome sequencing will be formulated.
7. A workshop for 2006 will be planned - probably in Halifax.

If you are interested in joining the ICGC, please e-mail Dr. Þorleifur Ágústsson at tolli@rf.is with information about your research, current and proposed, approaches and technologies used, and your contact information. Currently there is no membership fee.