Background

In 2021, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus established the Science Council to advise him on WHO’s scientific agenda. At its first meeting, the Science Council identified genomics as the focus of its first report, for a number of compelling reasons, chief among them, the substantial and extensive benefits of genomics for personal and public health. In its report ‘Accelerating access to genomics for global health’, the Science Council made 15 recommendations to the WHO grouped into four categories: Promotion of genomics through advocacy; implementation of genomic methodologies; collaboration among entities engaged in genomics; and attention to the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSIs) raised by genomics. One of the key recommendations of this report was for the WHO to form a genomics advisory group on Genomics.

Objective and function

The TAG-G will provide technical advice to support work aimed at accelerating access to genomics knowledge and technologies especially in low- and middle-income countries. The group's main, but not exclusive, focus will be on human genomics.

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the Technical Advisory Group Genomics has the following functions:

• Provide technical guidance on activities to accelerate access to genomics technologies for global health;
• Recommend priority activities in order to accelerate access to genomics technologies for global health, including promotion and advocacy in addition to technical activities;
• Contribute to efforts in convening discussions to develop genomics-related guidance and reports;
• Bring attention to regional and sub-regional opportunities and experiences in genomics;
• Contribute to assessing on progress in accelerating access to genomics for global health.

Composition

Following a call for interests, WHO has appointed the 15 members of the TAG-G, who serve in their personal capacities to represent the broad range of disciplines relevant to genomics including but not limited to expertise on cancer, other non-communicable and congenital diseases, human genomic variation, pharmacogenomics, implementation of genome-based technologies into clinical practice, ethics and other relevant social science domains related to human genomics.

In the selection of the TAG members, consideration was given to attaining an adequate distribution of technical expertise, geographical representation and gender balance.

Members of the TAG-G have been appointed to serve for a period of two years.

Their appointment may be terminated at any time by WHO if WHO's interest so requires or, as otherwise specified in these terms of reference or letters of appointment.  Where a member’s appointment is terminated, WHO may decide to appoint a replacement member.