42 U.S.C. § 285s: Purpose of Institute

Summary

The National Human Genome Research Institute must study the human genome—what it looks like and how it works—including mapping and sequencing genes. It plans and coordinates the genome project, funds and reviews research, creates training programs, works with international researchers, explains genome science to the public, and funds work on ethical and legal questions (including patent issues). The Institute Director may run or support research training that is not paid by fellowships under section 288 and that is not medical residency training. Each year at least 5 percent of the money for the Institute’s work must go to ethical and legal projects. That 5 percent rule does not apply for a year if the Director certifies to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources that too few proposals met the rules in sections 289 and 289a.

Title 42, §285s

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)General purpose

The general purpose of the National Human Genome Research Institute (in this subpart referred to as the “Institute”) is to characterize the structure and function of the human genome, including the mapping and sequencing of individual genes. Such purpose includes—

(1)planning and coordinating the research goal of the genome project;

(2)reviewing and funding research proposals;

(3)developing training programs;

(4)coordinating international genome research;

(5)communicating advances in genome science to the public; and

(6)reviewing and funding proposals to address the ethical and legal issues associated with the genome project (including legal issues regarding patents).

(b)Research training

The Director of the Institute may conduct and support research training—

(1)for which fellowship support is not provided under section 288 of this title; and

(2)that is not residency training of physicians or other health professionals.

(c)Amount available for ethical and legal issues

(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), of the amounts appropriated to carry out subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Director of the Institute shall make available not less than 5 percent for carrying out paragraph (6) of such subsection.

(2)With respect to providing funds under subsection (a)(6) for proposals to address the ethical issues associated with the genome project, paragraph (1) shall not apply for a fiscal year if the Director of the Institute certifies to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, that the Director has determined that an insufficient number of such proposals meet the applicable requirements of section 289 and 289a of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 287c of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 109–482.

Amendments

2007—Pub. L. 109–482, § 101(c)(4)(C), substituted “Institute” for “Center” wherever appearing in section catchline and text. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–482, § 101(c)(4)(B), substituted “National Human Genome Research Institute” for “National Center for Human Genome Research” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Labor and Human Resources of Senate changed to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of Senate by Senate Resolution No. 20, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 19, 1999. Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Commerce of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Energy and Commerce of House of Representatives, and jurisdiction over matters relating to securities and exchanges and insurance generally transferred to Committee on Financial Services of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Jan. 3, 2001.

Effective Date

of 2007 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–482 applicable only with respect to amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2007 or subsequent fiscal years, see section 109 of Pub. L. 109–482, set out as a note under section 281 of this title.

§285s Purpose of Institute