Investment in Human Genome Project Forges Genomic Revolution, Creating Jobs and Breakthroughs in Sciences

The US$3.8 billion the US government invested in the Human Genome Project (HGP; Washington DC, USA) from 1988 to 2003 helped drive $796 billion in economic impact and the generation of $244 billion in total personal income, according to a recent report.

In 2010 alone, the human genome sequencing projects and associated genomics research and industry activity directly and indirectly created $67 billion in US economic output and supported 310,000 jobs that produced $20 billion in personal income. The genomics-enabled industry also provided $3.7 billion in US federal taxes during 2010.

The report, released by Battelle (Columbus, OH, USA), an independent research and development organization, also outlines important breakthroughs the Human Genome Project, and a companion private project from Celera Genomics (Alameda, CA, USA), have made possible in just the first 10 years since the reference human genomes were published. Developments include new approaches to medicine, greater productivity in agriculture, and potential sources of renewable energy. The study also forecasted the creation of significantly more jobs in the future, as new companies and new industries continue to form around the expanded knowledge of human DNA model organism genomes and advances in genomics technology.

"From a simple return on investment, the financial stake made in mapping the entire human genome is clearly one of the best uses of taxpayer dollars the US government has ever made," said Greg Lucier, chief executive officer of Life Technologies (Carlsbad, CA, USA), whose foundation sponsored Battelle's analysis. "This project has been, and will continue to be, the kind of investment the government should foster…ones with tangible returns. The initial dollar investment has already been returned to the government via $49 billion paid in taxes. Now we sit at the dawn of the ‘genomics revolution' and all humankind will reap the benefits as we transfer what we now know about the human genome into major breakthroughs including: new forms of personalized medicine and genetics therapy better suited to solving the problems we all care so much about, such as cures for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, HIV/AIDS, and many more terrifying diseases. These major advancements are rapidly creating multiple new industries and companies and those companies are creating quality jobs for thousands of people. Life will be even better for all of us thanks to the HGP," Mr. Lucier said.

Simon Tripp, senior director of Battelle's Technology Partnership Practice, or TPP, noted, "What is truly impressive is the extent to which genomics technologies have advanced under the driving force of the human genome sequencing projects. Today high-speed sequencing and advancements in genomic data analysis are empowering unprecedented advancements in biological sciences and being applied to the most pressing issues facing the world--human health and medicine, feeding a rapidly expanding global population, developing advanced biofuels, and protecting the environment. The ability of modern science to address these large-scale issues via genomics stands as testimony to the vision and foresight shown by HGP supporters, leaders, and participants."

The economic and functional impacts generated by the sequencing of the human genome are already large and widespread. Between 1988 and 2010 genome sequencing projects, associated research and industry activity--directly and indirectly--generated an economic (output) impact of $796 billion, created 3.8 million job-years of employment (310,000 jobs in 2010) with personal income exceeding $244 billion (an average of $63,700 in personal income per job-year).

The federal government invested $3.8 billion in the HGP from 1990–2003 ($5.6 billion in 2010 dollars). This investment was foundational in generating the economic output of $796 billion above, and thus it shows a return on investment (ROI) to the US economy of 141 to 1, meaning that every $1 of federal HGP investment has contributed to the generation of $141 in the economy.

Overall, however, the impact of the human genome sequencing is just beginning--large-scale benefits in human medicine and many other diverse applications are still in their early stages. The best is yet to come, according to the report.

The HGP is possibly the single most influential investment to have been made in modern science and a foundation for progress in the biologic sciences moving forward, according to Battelle analysts. Scientists are using the reference genome, the knowledge of genome structure, and the data from the HGP as the foundation for basic developments in science and medicine and the development of applied genomics tools, techniques, and technologies.

Modern genomics, advanced by the HGP is not only being applied to human biomedical sciences. The "genomic revolution" is influencing renewable energy development, industrial biotechnology, agricultural biosciences, veterinary sciences, environmental science, forensic science and homeland security, and advanced studies in evolution, zoology, anthropology and other academic disciplines.

An increasingly two-way flow of diagnostics, therapeutics, and prevention tools will move between human medicine, veterinary medicine, and agriculture as the cost of genomic technologies reduces and the applications of discoveries in one area can be applied to another because of comparative genomics and other genomic advancements, according to Battelle analysts.

As one of the world's largest independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world's most pressing needs through its four global businesses: laboratory management; US national security; health and life sciences; and energy, environment, and material sciences. The organization advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $6.5 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management, and technology commercialization.

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