Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are used to identify common genetic factors that influence health and disease. In January 2008, the NIH implemented a policy for the sharing of data obtained in NIH-supported or conducted GWAS. The purpose of the policy is to foster science for the benefit of the public through the creation of a centralized NIH GWAS data repository. This Website supports the GWAS policy's implementation.

The NIH will continue to release additional information about the NIH GWAS policy on this site. Please e-mail questions about the policy to GWAS@mail.nih.gov.

Last fall, the NIH announced plans to update its data sharing policies for projects involving genomic data obtained with advanced sequencing technologies. This new policy is expected to include sequence data, epigenomic data and other related data, as well as GWAS data. The very large and rich data sets being generated have the potential for tremendous scientific value, and the NIH has concluded that maximum public benefit can best be realized by developing a policy that makes sequence and other large-scale genomic datasets available as broadly as is appropriate to a wide range of scientific investigators. In developing these policies, the NIH expects to build upon the current GWAS data sharing policy as well as the extensive public consultation efforts that were undertaken in the development of the current policy.

The link below provides additional information about the announcement.

Notice on Development of Data Sharing Policy for Sequence and Related Genomic Data