Infrastructure
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Human Genome Management
Information System
Betty K. Mansfield, Anne E. Adamson, Denise K.
Casey, Sheryl A. Martin, John S. Wassom, Judy
M. Wyrick, Laura N. Yust, Murray Browne, and
Marissa D. Mills
The Human Genome Management Information System (HGMIS), established in 1989 by the Human Genome Program Task Group of the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research, helps DOE fulfill its commitment to informing scientists, policymakers, and the public about the program's funded research. Through its communication role, HGMIS increases the use of resources generated in the Human Genome Project, reduces duplicative research efforts, and fosters collaborations and contributions to biology from other research disciplines. HGMIS products, including the Web sites and newsletter, have won technical and electronic communication awards. In May 1997, DOE acknowledged the newsletter's value by presenting an exceptional service award to HGN's managing editor at a symposium celebrating 50 years of biological and environmental research. Communicating scientific and societal issues to nonscientist audiences contributes to increased science literacy, thus laying a foundation for more informed decision making and public-policy development. For example, since 1995 HGMIS has been participating in a project to educate judges on the basics of genetics and gene testing to prepare for the coming flood of cases involving genetic evidence. Information Resources In keeping with its goals, HGMIS produces the following information resources in hard copy and on the Web: Publications. A quarterly forum for interdisciplinary information exchange, Human Genome News (HGN) uniquely presents a broad spectrum of genome-related topics to a widely diverse body of 14,000 domestic and foreign HGN subscribers. HGMIS also produces the DOE Primer on Molecular Genetics, progress reports on the DOE Human Genome Program, Santa Fe contractor-grantee workshop proceedings, 1-page topical handouts, and other related resource documents. Document Distribution. In addition to HGN, HGMIS has distributed more than 65,000 copies of items requested by subscribers, meeting attendees, and managers of genetics meetings and educational events. Electronic Communication. Since November 1994, HGMIS has produced a comprehensive, text-based Web server called Human Genome Project Information, which is devoted to topics relating to the science and societal issues surrounding the genome project. The HGMIS Web sites contain more than 1700 text files that are accessed over 1.2 million times a year. Each month, about 10,000 host computers connect directly to the HGMIS site and through more than 1000 other Web sites. All HGMIS documents are published on the Web site, along with other DOE-sponsored documents pertaining to the Human Genome Project. Collaborating with the Einstein Institute for Science, Health, and the Courts, HGMIS helps to produce CASOLM, the online magazine for judicial education in genetics and biomedical issues. HGMIS also maintains the Genetics section of the Virtual Library from CERN (Switzerland) and the DOE Human Genome Program pages and moderates the BioSci Human Genome Newsgroup. Information Source HGMIS staff members answer individual questions and supply general information about the Human Genome Project by telephone, fax, and e-mail and refer other questioners to experts in the Human Genome Project. HGMIS displays the DOE Human Genome Project traveling exhibit at occasional scientific conferences and genome-related meetings, makes presentations to educational, judicial, and other groups, and strives to strengthen the content relevancy of its services. This work is sponsored by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, U.S. Department of Energy, under contract No. DE-AC05- 96OR22464 with Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. 9/97 DOE Joint Genome Institute Public WWW site Robert Sutherland*, Linda Ashworth+, Mark O.
Mundt*, Sam Pitluck$, Tom Slezak+, and Darrell
O. Ricke*
The Joint Genome Institute (JGI) is integrating its information on its public WWW site. This information will combine data from LANL, LBNL, LLNL, and the new JGI PSF (Production Sequencing Facility). While this WWW site is under development, its planned content includes: (1) information about the JGI and its member institutions, (2) links to member institution's WWW pages and other relevant WWW sites, (3) physical maps for regions being sequenced by the JGI, (4) links to entries submitted to public databases, (5) links to the JGI FTP server, (6) finished sequence data with associated quality information and feature annotations, (7) JGI informatics, (8) functional genomics information, and (9) information and WWW-links to promote public education and understanding of Genetics and the Human Genome Program. This work is funded by the United States Department of Energy. Human Genome Program Coordination Activities Sylvia J. Spengler, Kelcey J. Poe, and Janice L. Mann
The DOE Human Genome Program of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) has developed a number of tools for management of the Program. Among these was the Human Genome Coordinating Committee (HGCC), established in 1988. In 1996, the HGCC was expanded to a broader vision of the role of genomic technologies in OBER programs, and the name was changed to reflect this broadening. The HGCC is now the Biotechnology Forum. The Forum is chaired by the Associate Director, OBER, Dr. A. Patrinos. Members of the Human Genome Program Management Task group are ex officio members, as are members of the Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee's subcommittee on the Human Genome. Responsibilities of the Forum include: assisting OBER in overall coordination of DOE-funded genome research; facilitating the development and dissemination of novel genome technologies; recommending establishment of ad hoc task groups in specific areas, such a informatics, technologies, model organisms; and evaluation of progress and consideration of long-term goals. Members also serve on the Joint DOE-NIH Subcommittee on the Human genome, for interagency coordination. The coordination group also participates in interface programs with other facilities and provides scientific support for development of other OHER goals, as requested. This work was supported by the Director, Office of Energy Research, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Human Genome Program, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098. |