An international cancer genome group was launched Tuesday, a collaborative effort on the part of nine countries to produce genomic data on different types of cancer.

The data gleaned through this process will help scientists develop ways to target cancer tumours through drug therapies and to tailor new treatments to specific cancers.

The countries involved in the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) include Canada, Australia, China, France, India, Japan, Singapore, the U.K. and the United States, as well as Europe's European Commission. The ICGC plans to invite more nations to participate.

Each member of the group will be asked to conduct an intensive analysis of genomic research in one subtype of cancer, and to propose studies around data collection and analysis. Each research project will include on average 500 participants and cost $20 million US, according to the consortium.

The group will produce a list of 50 cancer types and subtypes prior to the initiation of further research. Once new data begins to come in, the consortium will help disseminate it among all ICGC participants.

"The consortium will use new genome analysis technologies to produce comprehensive catalogs of the genetic mutations involved in the world's major types of cancer," said Thomas Hudson, scientific director and president of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and a member of the ICGC secretariat, in a release.

"Such catalogs will be valuable resources for all researchers working to develop new and better ways of diagnosing, treating and preventing cancer."

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research will have a key role in co-ordinating the collection and sharing of research data. The Ontario government has committed $40 million to the 10-year project, which will include hiring 50 researchers.

"This investment puts Ontario at the forefront of international research that will save lives around the world," said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, in a release.

According to the ICGC, in 2007, over 12 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed worldwide and approximately 7.6 million deaths from the disease occurred.