January 10, 2017
In a few days, on January 14 to be precise, NHGRI will celebrate its 20th Anniversary as an NIH institute. Back in 1997, the National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) graduated from 'center status' to become the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). While looking for details about the significance of this promotion, I came across this statement from About NHGRI: A Brief History and Timeline: "As an institute, NHGRI can more appropriately interact with other federal agencies and share equal standing with other institutes at NIH." I may not fully appreciate all of the nuances of having 'institute' status, but I certainly believe that genomics as a discipline warrants any amount of resources or gravitas that institute status might bring, making me happy that we have it! So, here we are - just exiting our teenage years as an NIH institute and looking ahead to all of the excitement (and complexities) that young adulthood can bring.
This month's The Genomics Landscape features stories about:
All the best,
Eric
On December 31, NHGRI said goodbye to its founding Director of the Division of Genome Sciences in the Extramural Research Program, Dr. Jeffery Schloss. After a truly remarkable career that included leading NHGRI's DNA sequencing technology development program, Jeff is embarking on a well-deserved journey into retirement.
Originally trained and working in the field of regulation of mRNA abundance control and mammalian non-muscle cell motility, Jeff was recruited from the University of Kentucky to the National Center for Human Genome Research in 1992. He joined the team managing the large NHGRI-funded genome centers, groups that were then involved in constructing genetic and physical maps of human and model organism genomes. At the time of his recruitment, he considered himself a cell biologist, and thought that the move to genomics and to extramural administration/management would be a stretch. Little did he realize how well he would flourish in his new role!
In 1996, Jeff was asked to take on the leadership of the DNA sequencing technology development efforts in the NHGRI Extramural Research Program. Since then, he has skillfully managed a diverse portfolio of grants involved in developing a range of nucleic acids-related technologies - in particular, DNA sequencing technology and the well-known $1,000 Genome Program.
The $1,000 Genome Program has made seminal contributions to the nearly million-fold reduction in DNA sequencing costs that has occurred over the past ~15 years, helping to catalyze the growth of an entire industry built around genome sequencing (including for clinical diagnostics). This ground-breaking program is certainly one of the most successful technology development programs in the history of NIH, much to the credit of Jeff's outstanding leadership. In addition to his technology development portfolio, Jeff also worked on the Human Microbiome Program and coordinated the Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science program.
Jeff's contributions to science have been appropriately recognized across the NIH, including by Dr. Elias Zerhouni, the former NIH Director. At the start of the NIH Roadmap (now Common Fund) program, Dr. Zerhouni asked Jeff to serve as one of two co-chairs for the Nanomedicine Working Group; Jeff was the only working group co-chair who was not an Institute/Center Director. Using this and other trans-NIH and trans-Federal opportunities, Jeff promoted interdisciplinary research. He was a founding member and chair of the NIH Bioengineering Consortium (BECON); co-chaired the trans-NIH Nanotechnology Task Force; and served as an NIH representative to the federal working group for the National Nanotechnology Initiative.
Jeff's myriad accomplishments at NHGRI and NIH have also been recognized by many deserving awards. He received an NHGRI Individual Merit award ten times, the NIH Director's Award six times, and Finalist status for a 2012 Service to America Award (SAMMIE) given by the Partnership for Public service. In 2015, he fittingly received a Health and Human Services (HHS) Career Achievement Award.
Jeff's intellect, leadership, dedication, and contributions have created a lasting legacy that have profoundly benefited NHGRI and the entire field of genomics. His presence will be missed around NIH and in the extramural genomics community. We wish him all the best with his new adventures in retirement!
New dbGaP Data Browser
The National Center for Biotechnology Information's (NCBI) database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP) is an important resource for researchers studying the genomic contributions to human health and disease. Researchers can access dbGaP data through a system designed to protect research participant privacy and honor the consent conditions participants agreed to when joining a research study. Recently, a new tool, the dbGaP Data Browser, was developed that allows scientists to more readily access some dbGaP data, while still protecting participant privacy. The Browser provides view-only access to data authorized for general research use through a simplified approval process, allowing researchers to view and better understand dbGaP data and to make better-informed decisions about requesting full access to particular datasets. For detailed information about the new dbGaP Data Browser, see nar.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/11/29/ nar.gkw1139.full.
"Your DNA, Your Say" Survey from GA4GH
The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) has been conducting a study to explore global attitudes and beliefs about the sharing of genomic and clinical information. GA4GH developed a video series and survey that aims to assess public attitudes about the handling of genomic data. The video series includes nine short films that educate viewers about genomic data, including how such data can be used, accessed, and shared by researchers. After each video, viewers are asked to answer a series of survey questions about their views of genomic data sharing. GA4GH hopes that the survey will be widely taken by people from around the world, from all walks of life, and from different age and social groups. The goal is to survey not only patients, research participants, scientists, and health professionals, but also the general public. For more information and to access the videos and survey, see genomicsandhealth.org/your-dna-your-say.
Diana Bianchi's Laboratory Joins NHGRI
Recently, NIH welcomed a new Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Dr. Diana Bianchi. In addition to serving as NICHD Director, Dr. Bianchi will continue leading a research laboratory studying important problems in reproductive genetics and genomics. In moving to NIH, her laboratory (formerly of the Mother Infant Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center) has now joined NHGRI's Intramural Research Program as part of the Medical Genetics Branch. The group will continue a major focus on prenatal genomics, with the goal of advancing noninvasive prenatal DNA screening and diagnosis and developing new therapies for genetic disorders that can be administered prenatally.
Precision Oncology: Epigenetic Patterns Predict Glioblastoma Outcomes
Physician Attitudes Will Impact Adoption of Prenatal Whole Genome Sequencing
Cellular Immunotherapy Targets a Common Human Cancer Mutation
Scientists Can Now Better Diagnose Diseases with Multiple Genetic Causes
Reanalyzing the Worlds' Largest Pan-Cancer Initiative Dataset
Sex Hormone-Sensitive Gene Complex Linked to Premenstrual Mood Disorder
Familial Test Helps Detect Genes that Cause Complex Diseases
NIH Extends the Effective Date for the NIH Policy on the Use of a Single IRB for Multi-Site Research
Opportunity to Sequence Pediatric Cohorts through the Kids First Program
Novel Analytical Approaches for Metabolomics Data
Administrative Supplement for Research on Sex/Gender Influences
NLM Administrative Supplements for Informationist Services in NIH-Funded Research Projects
Opportunity to Sequence Pediatric Cohorts: Kids First Program Pre-Application Webinar - January 23, 2017, 3 PM EST
Seventy-Ninth Meeting: National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research - February 6, 2016
The 2017 National DNA Day Essay Contest Is Open!
Statement from the President on Senate Passage of the 21st Century Cures Act
In a NEJM Perspective, Drs. Hudson and Collins Outline the Importance of the Cures Act to NIH
Major General James Gilman, M.D., Tapped to Lead NIH Clinical Center
Francis Collins Receives Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Award
Extension for "Strategies for NIH Data Management, Sharing, and Citation"
Extension for "Strategic Plan for the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health"
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Last Updated: January 10, 2017
Posted: August 4, 2008
