Contact:

Dr. Rebekah Rasooly
Telephone: 301-594-6007
Email: rasoolyr@extra.niddk.nih.gov

Description:

In a meeting sponsored by the NIDDK and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) in July, 2005, representatives of the EDIC Genetics, FIND, GoKinD and Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium studies along with experts in genetics, nephrology and diabetes recommended that major efforts be made to apply methodological advances in human genetics to the existing large sample collections in carefully crafted investigations. New genotyping methods based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) now permit various investigative approaches, including high throughput sequencing of candidate genes or genomic regions, whole genome association studies and haplotype analysis. The data emerging from these technologies are being analyzed using new approaches and tools. Results from this research will likely have direct implications for treatment and, perhaps, prevention of diabetic complications.

The purpose of this initiative is to support applications that implement large-scale studies and innovative analytical designs using samples from one or more of the EDIC, FIND, GoKinD or the Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium collections to identify genes and even specific genetic variants that confer susceptibility or resistance to diabetic complications. Appropriate topics for investigation will include (but are not limited to) whole genome association studies and analyses, with follow-up studies on genes or regions of interest, candidate gene studies, and fine mapping of selected regions of interest identified in previous studies. Analysis of a very limited collection of other existing samples and/or targeted and limited recruitment of appropriate controls will be allowed, if specifically justified as a method of analyzing the designated sample collections, but the preponderance of samples proposed for analysis must come from the designated studies. Funds for the initial high density (whole genome association) genotyping will be covered separately by the NIDDK through the NIDDK Repository or other mechanism, although applicants will be able to request funding for limited customized genotyping or sequencing related to candidate gene investigations, haplotype analyses or fine mapping studies. The resulting data will be delivered to the investigator, and also reposited in an NIDDK-supported database. Genotypic data will be shared with the research community after one year. Since one major goal is to avoid redundancy among the selected projects, uniqueness will be a funding criterion.