The International 100K+ Cohorts Consortium: Integrating large-scale cohorts to address global challenges in genomics and precision health

Multiple large cohort studies involving hundreds of thousands of people have recently been launched in several regions worldwide. They are of great value for studying diverse populations and key demographic subgroups, rare genotypes and exposures, and gene-environment interactions. Each cohort is constrained, however, by its size, ancestral origins, and geographic boundaries that limit the subgroups, exposures, outcomes, and interactions it can examine. Combining data across large cohorts to address questions none of them can answer alone enhances the value of each and leverages the enormous investments already made in them to address pressing questions in global health. The International 100K+ Cohorts Consortium (IHCC) comprises 103 cohorts in 43 countries involving nearly 50 million participants.
Collaborative efforts to date have focused on developing a query-able Global Cohorts Atlas and data sharing platform, identifying and piloting high-priority scientific projects, and developing a charter and governance structure to foster collaborations. The current status of the IHCC and plans for the next five years will be discussed.