Research organizations from around the world have announced the launch of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) to generate high-quality genomic data on approximately 50 types of cancer through efforts projected to take up to a decade. The ICGC will make its data freely available to the global research community and encourages organizations in all nations to participate. Each project is expected to involve specimens from approximately 500 patients and to have an estimated cost of $20 million.