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The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI)

The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) was announced in February 2006 to support research that will lead to the understanding of genetic contributions and gene-environment interactions in common disease. GEI is being planned by an NIH-wide Coordinating Committee, administratively led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

Implementation of GEI began with a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) component that comprises three elements:

1. Genotyping facilities to perform high-throughput genotyping for GWA studies over four years. (RFA HG-06-014 [grants1.nih.gov])
   
   
2. A Coordinating Center (CC) to provide analytic support, data quality assessment and quality control, and logistical management of the GWA program. (RFA HG-06-032 [grants1.nih.gov])
   
   
3. Investigative groups to submit samples from well-characterized subjects for GWA genotyping and/or replication studies, and to analyze the resulting data. (RFA HG-07-012 [grants1.nih.gov])

The GWA component of GEI is being administratively led by NHGRI on behalf of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Curated data will be made available through a controlled-access process in a central database established by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) for research use (db Gap).

More information about the awards made in 2007 may be found in: Genes, Environment and Health Initiative Invests in Genetic Studies, Environmental Monitoring Technologies.

One of the initial decisions of the NIH-wide Coordinating Committee was that that the genetic component of GEI should not be limited only to the collection of GWA genotype data. In this way, the GEI genetics component will differ from the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN). Support for data analysis, replication and fine mapping studies, sequencing, functional studies, database development and clinical translation are all included within GEI.

Other aspects of GEI that have recently been implemented include:

• Genes, Environment and Health Initiative: Translating Whole Genome Association Data into Clinical Practice
  Workshop to explore the challenges in using GEI basic findings to have a positive impact on health. March 10-11, 2008.
  
  
• Methods of Analysis of Gene-Environment Interactions in Complex Diseases: The Genes and Environment Initiative (RFA HL-07-010)
  Aims to develop and test innovative, informative, and cost-effective methods and analytical strategies for identifying gene-environment interactions in genome-wide association studies, sequencing studies, linkage analyses, or candidate gene approaches with broad applicability in complex diseases
  
  
• Methods of Statistical Analysis of DNA Sequence Data for Studies Relating to Variation in Disease (RFA MH-08-040)
  Encourages the development of novel methods of statistical analysis of DNA sequence data in studies that aim to relate genetic variation to disease.
  
  
• Genome-Wide Association Studies for the Rest of Us: Adding Genome-wide Association to Population Studies
  Workshop on genome-wide association in population studies. In collaboration with the Society for Epidemiologic Research. June 22, 2007
  
  

News

• Genes, Environment and Health Initiative Invests In Genetic Studies, Environmental Monitoring Technologies
  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) selects the first projects to be funded as part of the Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI), a unique collaboration between geneticists and environmental scientists. Sept. 4, 2007

GEI Coordinating Committee Co-chairs:

• Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
  Director, National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
  
  
• Samuel H. Wilson, M.D.
  Acting Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and National Toxicology Program (NTP)

GEI Genetic Subcommittee Working Groups

• Genome Wide Association Genotyping

Teri Manolio, NHGRI (Chair)
Zhaoxia Ren, NIAAA (Co-chair)

• Data Analysis

Thomas Lehner, NIMH (Chair)
Lisa Brooks, NHGRI (Co-chair)

• Replication & Fine Mapping

  Bob Hoover, NCI (Chair)
  Hemin Chin, NEI (Co-chair)

• Sequencing

Mark Guyer, NHGRI (Chair)
Adam Felsenfeld, NHGRI (Co-chair)

• Functional Studies

Joni Rutter, NIDA (Chair)
Danilo Tagle, NINDS (Co-chair)

• Translational Research

Rebekah Rasooly, NIDDK (Chair)
Richard Anderson, NIGMS (Co-chair)

• Database

Steve Sherry, NLM/NCBI (Chair)
Jim Ostell, NLM/NCBI (Co-chair)

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Last Reviewed: July 29, 2008