Human Variome Project International Limited is a not-for-profit Australian public company limited by guarantee that was founded in 2010 to provide central coordination efforts to the global Human Variome Project effort and run the International Coordinating Office. The company has no shareholders and is endorsed by the Australian Tax Office as a deductible gift recipient as a Health Project Charity.

Human Variome Project International Limited, as a company limited by guarantee, is a public unlisted company. It must file accounts annually with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, it must be audited and, as a public company, the directors and officers of the company must comply with all the duties and responsibilities set out in the Australian Corporations Act. UNESCO also stipulates strict conditions for compliance with its functions and operation as a non-government and non-profit making organisation.

Human Variome Project International’s objects and powers include:

• to promote the prevention or the control of diseases in human beings
• to develop and provide educational programs, training and courses in public administration, public sector management, public policy, public affairs and any other related fields
• to alleviate human suffering by collecting, organising and sharing data on genetic variation;
• to further the Human Variome Project
• to act as the co-ordinating office for the Human Variome Project
• to attract and employ academics, researchers, practitioners and other staff as required to provide and support the services to further the objects of the Company
• to provide facilities for research, study and education related to the Human Variome Project
• to carry out and conduct the business of provider of administrative and consulting services;
• to seek, encourage and accept gifts, grants, donations or endorsements
• to affiliate with and enter into co-operative agreements with research educational institutions, government, local governments, practitioner bodies, non-government organisations, commercial, cultural and any other institutions or bodies

Company Members

• Mr David Abraham
• Professor Richard Cotton
• Sir John Burn
• Dr David Rimoin
• Dr Eric Haan
• Professor Jean-Jacques Cassiman
• (representative of) National Institute of Gene Science and Technology Development (China)