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The National Programme in Cancer Genomics is a new programme designed to investigate the genetic basis of cancer initiated by the President of France in 2006. The Institut National de Cancer (INCa) oversees the programme. The Fondation Jean Dausset– Centre d'Etude du Polymorphism Humain (CEPH) and the Centre National de Génotypage are key actors for large-scale genomic approaches. Many groups in the French Cancerpole network supported by the INCa and other academic groups in France and internationally are collaborating with the programme. Studies of lung and kidney cancer involve the PNES Pumon and PNES Rein networks of excellence established by the INCa.

The first phase of the programme is on the identification of constitutional genetic factor predisposing to cancer, particularly lung and kidney cancer. After the successful initiation of the programme, it is anticipated that it will be expanded to include studies of somatic variation in cancer.

Key dates and milestones:

April 2006 – Presidential decision to initiate the programme
May 2006-July 2006 – Design of the 1st phase
Aug 2006-Oct 2006 – International and national scientific evaluations
December 2006 – Contracts established
February 2007 – Financing
April 2008 – Publication on genetic markers of predisposition to lung cancer in Nature