3613 results for "*geneti*"

in 72.50 milliseconds.

• Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR)-National Institute on Aging (NIA) Whole Exome Analysis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

  The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a family of hereditary disorders of connective tissue characterized by joint hypermobility and skin involvement with soft, translucent, stretchy skin, and atrophic scarring. To date, over 12 different types of EDS are known, and the genes causing almost all of them have been found. However, the gene(s) underlying the most common of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, known as the hypermobile type, remain elusive. The hypermobile type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is associated with multiple co-morbidities, including dysautonomia, chronic musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal dysmotility, mast cell activation and multiple neurologic complications. Affected persons often suffer from chronic fatigue and may be chronically disabled. While the precise frequency of the condition is not known, it may be as common as between 1/500 and 1/1000 persons. There is a significant overlap with the phenotype of fibromyalgia, and multiple persons diagnosed with fibromyalgia may well have the hypermobile type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The phenotype of hypermobile EDS segregates as a single dominant trait with complete penetrance, variable expressivity, and a markedly evolving phenotype over time. Identification of the genetic cause of this hereditary disorder has the potential to inform rational therapy for this disabling condition. It is hoped that the insight into the pathogenesis of the hypermobile type of EDS will lead to a similar breakthrough in therapy for this disorder. Toward this end, whole exome sequencing (WES) of DNA from a total of 167 patients will be performed at the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) to identify genes underlying the hypermobile type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and those with EDS of an uncharacterized type.

  Study phs001779

• Genetics of Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy

  This grant proposal continues to expand our understanding of the clinical presentation of Fuchs corneal dystrophy, and its underlying genetic basis, which will lead to the development of better therapeutic models and treatment for a common corneal dystrophy that affects 4% of the US population over age 40.

  Study phs001834

• Discovery of Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility Genes in High-Risk Families

  Colorectal cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the US with 146,970 new diagnoses and 49,920 deaths estimated for 2009. Colon cancer is also one of the most familial of cancers. Individuals with a first-degree relative with colon cancer have a 2- to 3-fold increased risk, and those with more than one first-degree relative with colon cancer, or a single first-degree relative affected at age 50 years, have a 3- to 6-fold greater risk than those with no family history. The most prominent high-risk colorectal cancer susceptibility genes, APC, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PTEN, were all discovered more than a decade ago. Currently, mutation screening of these genes, plus a short list of additional genes that are responsible for a very small fraction of colorectal cancer, plays an important role in the clinical management of individuals with a strong family history of the disease or syndromic evidence for the presence of a gene mutation. At the other end of the risk spectrum, genome-wide association studies have identified a number of common alleles with very modest effects on colorectal cancer risk; their clinical utility has yet to be established. However, taken together, the known spectrum of genetic effects only explain about one quarter of the overall familial excess of colorectal cancer. It should be emphasized that, at present, the vast majority of individuals seen at familial cancer clinics are counseled on the basis of their family history alone because they do not have mutations in the known susceptibility genes. Accordingly, the long-term objective of this project is to identify the majority of genes responsible for the unexplained component of inherited colorectal cancer risk. Nextgen DNA sequencing is well suited for application to research questions in genetic susceptibility for which linkage analysis is confounded by extensive genetic heterogeneity. Taking advantage of unparalleled familial cancer genetics resources available through the Utah Population Database, candidate genes have been identified by sequencing all of the gene exons in the human genome from a series of colorectal cancer cases with a very strong family history of colorectal cancer not explained by one of the currently known high-risk susceptibility genes.

  Study phs001787

• Intergenerational Impact of Genetic and Psychological Factors on Blood Pressure (InterGEN Study)

  This research study focuses on the genomic and psychological environmental effects on blood pressure among mothers and their children. The study includes 250 mothers who self-identify as AA/black, and 250 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old at the time of enrollment. The study is longitudinal and data collection interviews are scheduled every six months for two years after enrollment, for a total of four participant interviews. Assessment is as follows: genetic (time 1 only) and psychological factors (every six months for two years).

  Study phs001792

• Genetic Analysis of the Chiari I Malformation

  This study used whole exome sequencing (WES) on families affected with Chiari I Malformation (CM1). Individuals were recruited from the Republic of Tartarstan in the Russian Federation, where CM1 has a high prevalence (approximately 413 out of 100,000). At least one-third of these affected individuals have an affected relative. In collaboration with Dr. Enver Bogdanov of Kazan State Medical University, seven extended families affected with CM1 were identified. Eligible participants for this study were required to 1) have CM1 and a family member with syringomyelia or CM1, or 2) be a family member of a patient with CM1 and have at least two immediate family members diagnosed with CM1. Adults and minors were eligible for this study and recruitment was through self and physician referral. Patients were excluded if they had a contraindication to MRI scanning, were unable to understand the risks of testing, were under one year of age, or could not undergo MRI scanning without sedation. Study participants underwent SPGR (Spoiled Gradient Recalled) and T1-weighted MR-imaging of the brain and cervical spinal cord to assess the volume of the posterior fossa, as well as the presence of CM1. Individuals were defined as having CM1 if the inferior aspect of the cerebellar tonsils were lying ≥=2 mm caudal to the foramen magnum. Individuals were defined as having a small posterior fossa volume if the ratio of the posterior fossa volume to the supratentorial volume was < 0.15. Sixty-two patients (both cases and controls) from the seven extended families had DNA extracted from blood lymphocytes contained in 10 milliliters of stored blood. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed by the National Intramural Sequencing Center (NISC). These genotype data, as well as the case-control phenotype data on CM1 diagnosis and small posterior fossa diagnosis, were made available to dbGaP.

  Study phs001795

• Genomics of Pediatric Renal Medullary Carcinomas

  Version 1We derived faithful cancer cell lines from patients with a diagnosis of renal medullary carcinomas (RMC). These models have been sequenced with whole genome, exome and transcriptome technologies along with the patient's primary germline and tumor samples. We took these faithful models and performed loss-of-function genetic perturbation screens (e.g. RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9) along with an orthogonal small molecule screen. We identified the ubiquitin-proteasome system as an important target in RMC as well as other SMARCB1 deficient cancers.Version 2We have collaborated with the Children's Oncology Group and the study AREN03B2 to study the cohort of patients with a central diagnosis of RMC. Here, we used 10x linked read sequencing along with RNA-sequencing to profile these matched tumor-normal pairs.

  Study phs001800

• Genetics of Lymphatic Anomalies from Center of Applied Genomics (CAG) at CHOP

  Lymphatic anomaly, a rare and devastating disease spectrum of mostly unknown etiologies, is characterized by diffuse or multicentric proliferation of dilated lymphatic vessels, and includes a variety of diagnoses: lymphangiectasia, central conducting lymphatic anomaly, generalized lymphatic anomaly, kaposiform lymphangiomatosis, and Gorham Stout disease. Currently, most treatments are considered palliative; lymphatic anomalies are often chronic debilitating conditions that require multiple yearly outpatient visits and hospital admissions for procedures that ameliorate symptoms, but do not correct the underlying cause. Identifying the causal genes will be hugely informative for our understanding of diseases. This will also allow for the development of affordable and successful diagnostic tests and therapies in keeping with "precision medicine" implementation.

  Study phs001802

• Identification of Genomic Markers of Cervical Dystonia and Subtypes

  As the third most common movement disorder, dystonias collectively affect more than 2 million people worldwide. Despite their high prevalence, their biological roots are largely unknown. Genetic influences are suggested in familial studies, however, no specific genetic variants are responsible for a significant proportion of identified cases. Previous genome-wide association studies of the dystonias were limited by smaller sample size and lack of coverage of rare variants. In this study, we use a high-throughput genomic approach to effectively investigate relationships between over genome-wide genetic variations and dystonias. We conduct targeted analyses of candidate genes, as well as agnostic searches for any genomic with the dystonias and subtypes in a large sample of dystonia patients available.

  Study phs001803

• NIDA Genetic Epidemiology of Opioid Dependence in Bulgaria (GEODB)

  The study was conducted in Bulgaria as a collaboration between the Molecular Medicine Center (Medical University, Sofia), the Bulgarian Addictions Institute (Sofia), the Initiative for Health Foundation (Sofia) and Washington University School of Medicine (Saint Louis, MO, USA). This is a case-population control study. Participants (N=2,499 interviews; N=1,995 with GWAS data) in our study are primarily active heroin users (78%) aged 18 and over, with a median 8.9 years of daily heroin use (minimum of 12 months). Virtually all participants (99.1%) qualified for a lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of dependence, symptom endorsement probabilities ranging from 77% to 99.3%; and 61% endorsing all symptoms. 85% were heroin injectors and 97% reported using (or having used) heroin daily. Anonymized, population-representative control samples (no phenotypic data, N = 1,062 with GWAS data) were drawn from the MMC repository. Unlike other studies, where samples are clinically ascertained (e.g., from ORT programs), our participants are primarily untreated. PTSD, major depression, suicidality, mania, alcohol, nicotine and substance dependence (separating heroin and opioids) were assessed using the MAGIC (Todd et al., 2003, PMID: 14627881), a broad semi-structured psychiatric assessment tool with good reliability and prospective stability. The onset of (any) illicit drug use in this sample is not particularly remarkable (age~16), but the age of onset of heroin use is much lower than in the USA: 25% by age 16; 50% by age 19, with no differences between ethnicities or gender. This is consistent with findings from other studies in Bulgaria. In contrast, in 2008, SAMHSA estimated an average age of 23.4 for new heroin initiates in the USA. Further, progression from first use to regular use appears to be more rapid, with the majority of participants reporting onset of dependence problems within one year of initiation. Another unique aspect of this study population are the comparatively low levels of polysubstance use (outside of nicotine and alcohol). This early-use, fast-transition and monosubstance heroin pattern stands in sharp contrast to what is reported in many studies in the Western World. In our study, 47% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 66% of Roma used only opioids, even years after the onset of drug use. 15.4% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 66.2% of Roma reported heroin as the very first illicit drug used. Lifetime, 12.5% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 52.8% of Roma report never having used another illicit drug other than heroin more than five times. While both Roma and Ethnic Bulgarians certainly experiment with other drugs, abuse/dependence rates for these drugs are low in Ethnic Bulgarians (from 8.4% for inhalants to 28% for stimulants) and in the Roma population (from 1.3% for hallucinogens to 11.2% for stimulants).

  Study phs001804

• InTEAM Consortium - Alcoholic Hepatitis

  Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by profound hepatocellular dysfunction for which targeted treatments are urgently needed. Identification of molecular drivers is hampered by the lack of suitable animal models. By performing RNA sequencing in livers from patients with different phenotypes of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), we describe the transcriptional programs involved in disease progression. We uncovered that development of AH is characterized by the defective activity of liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs). The PPARG predicted activation state was found increased in early forms of ALD, while AH was associated by a marked decrease in HNF4A-dependent gene expression along with a marked expression of the fetal HNF4A isoform (P2). TGFB1, a key upstream transcriptome regulator in AH, induced the use of HNF4a P2 promoter in hepatocytes, which resulted in abnormal bile acid synthesis and defective metabolic and synthetic functions. PPARG agonists partially prevented this effect. We conclude that targeting TGFB1 and epigenetic drivers that modulate HNF4A-dependent gene expression could be beneficial to improve hepatocellular function in patients with AH. The study was conducted thanks to a multicenter collaboration under the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)-funded consortium: Integrated Approaches for Identifying Molecular Targets in Alcoholic Hepatitis (InTEAM).

  Study phs001807

• Gene-Environment Interactions in COCCaINE Use Disorder: Collaborative Case-Control Initiative in Cocaine Addiction

  Drug addiction is a phenotype that has high heritability estimates. In recent years, association studies of candidate genes and some genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a large number of SNPs associated with substance use, abuse or dependence, particularly in phenotypes related to alcohol and nicotine use. Regarding snorted or smoked cocaine dependency, only one GWAS has been conducted so far. In addition, genetic association studies that specifically evaluated smoked cocaine dependence (e.g. crack) are rare, because of characteristics related to the route of administration and duration of the effect of the drug. Thus, the main aim of this GWAS was to identify genetic variations that modulate the risk for the cocaine dependence.

  Study phs001810

• Molecular Determinants of Tumor Behavior in Early Lung Adenocarcinoma

  Lung adenocarcinoma is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and a heterogeneous disease with poor survival in the advanced stage. Given that the frequency of early diagnosis is increasing, the investigation of the molecular determinants of disease progression is paramount. Prediction of whether the tumor is indolent or aggressive has been the subject of recent investigations. Yet, the molecular underpinnings explaining the difference in tumor behavior remains largely unknown and is directly relevant to the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of lung cancer screening, including the risks of over-diagnosis and overtreatment. To gain insights into the molecular pathogenesis and the underlying molecular determinants of clinical behavior of early adenocarcinoma, we investigated genetic alterations in 102 surgically resected early adenocarcinomas. We hypothesized that the behavior of early adenocarcinoma can be predicted based on genomic underpinnings. To identify the type of genomic alterations associated with resected indolent and aggressive early lung ADC, the DNA samples from 21 adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), 27 minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and 54 fully invasive adenocarcinoma were collected and subjected to a deep next generation sequencing, targeting a custom 347 cancer gene panel. Our study provides new insights into cancer genomic evolution, helps to elucidate the interplay of somatic mutation and the adaptation of clones, and brings new insights into the key distinction between indolent and aggressive tumor behavior.

  Study phs001811

• Genetic and Epigenetic Determinants of Pediatric Obesity-Associated Asthma

  Fifty-nine obese and sixty-one normal-weight asthmatic children of African American or Hispanic background, age 7-11 years, with well controlled asthma, were recruited from clinics affiliated with Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York, USA. We isolated CD4+ T cells (Th cells) from a fasting sample of peripheral blood and conducted genome-wide assays of gene expression by Directional Transcriptome Sequencing (RNA-seq), DNA methylation by HELP-tagging, and examined genetic polymorphisms and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), informative about ancestry, by array-based genotyping using Multi-Ethnic Genotyping Array.

  Study phs001812

• Molecular Genetics of Heterotaxy and Related Congenital Heart Defects

  Heterotaxy syndrome is a congenital anomaly syndrome accompanied by thoracic and abdominal situs abnormalities. The study cohort comprises of individuals with heterotaxy or related congenital heart disease (CHD) who have undergone exome sequencing. The purpose of the study is to elucidate the molecular genetics of the disorder as well as contribute to knowledge about the biology of normal and abnormal development of left-right anatomic asymmetry. These results will further help delineate genotype-phenotype associations and provide important information on the causes, management, and prognosis of heterotaxy syndrome.

  Study phs001814

• CRISPR-Mediated ASD Gene Knockout Reduces Neuronal Activity

  Autism Spectrum Disorder is phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous. We present a CRISPR gene editing strategy to insert a protein tag and premature termination sites creating an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) knockout resource for functional studies of 10 ASD-relevant genes (AFF2/FMR2, ANOS1, ASTN2, ATRX, CACNA1C, CHD8, DLGAP2, KCNQ2, SCN2A, TENM1). Neurogenin 2 (NGN2)-directed induction of iPSCs allowed production of excitatory neurons, and mutant proteins were not detectable. RNAseq revealed convergence of several neuronal networks. Using both patch-clamp and multi-electrode array approaches, the electrophysiological deficits measured were distinct for different mutations. However, they culminated in a consistent reduction in synaptic activity, including reduced spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current frequencies in AFF2/FMR2-, ASTN2-, ATRX-, KCNQ2- and SCN2A-null neurons. Despite ASD susceptibility genes belonging to different gene ontologies, isogenic stem cell resources can reveal common functional phenotypes, such as reduced functional connectivity.

  Study phs001816

• GeneScreen, a Population Based, Targeted Genomic Screening Study

  The GeneScreen research study was based at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. It brought together researchers from different disciplines, including genetics, clinical medicine, bioethics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and public health, to study the best ways to offer targeted genetic screening to the general adult population. DNA samples were collected from people who joined GeneScreen to look at a targeted panel of 17 genes. It tested for genetic differences (called mutations) that can cause one of 11 rare, but preventable or treatable conditions, including certain types of cancer and heart disease. Each condition has specific medical advice people can follow with their doctors to prevent or treat a serious health problem. The GeneScreen study was approved by the UNC Institutional Review Board and by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research Institutional Review Board. GeneScreen is funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

  Study phs001817

• The Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorder Project

  The aim of this study is to enable the unification of the clinical and research arms of comprehensive genomic profiling in the setting of cancer and hematologic disease. Increasingly, studies of the genomic etiology of cancer and hematologic diseases are being utilized for patient management, including prognostication, informing diagnosis, and evaluating eligibility for targeted therapeutics and clinical trials. Clinically available testing can be limited in scope and follow-up, and thus assessment of the impact on patient outcomes is difficult to ascertain. N-of-1 studies have the ability to more broadly impact our understanding of the mechanisms of cancer and hematologic disease, and can have benefit for the individual as well as the larger population of patients with these diseases. Thus, we seek to study and characterize the genomic underpinnings of cancer and hematologic disease through genomic profiling studies bridging both clinical and research components. We will rigorously perform and vet research sequencing and genomic studies protocols for the purpose of transitioning these assays to clinically valid testing for use in clinical patient care. We have been enrolling patients onto this comprehensive genomic profiling study since January 2018. As part of the genomic workup for these patients, we have been performing tumor and normal whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing and RNA-Seq. The project is largely supported by the Nationwide Children's Foundation, and we anticipate adding another 50-70 cases per year. This protocol is significant in that it expands our understanding of the etiology of cancer and hematologic disease through a comprehensive analysis aimed at detecting a broad scope of genomic aberrations. Additionally, it improves our understanding of the clinical utility of genomic profiling and has the potential to ultimately improve patient management and surveillance at both level of an individual and general populations of patients affected by these diseases. Primary Objectives: Aim 1: Use diagnostic, relapse, and/or germline samples for augmented whole exome sequencing to characterize the spectrum of germline and somatic genomic alterations in pediatric malignancies and hematologic disease. Aim 2: Examine gene expression and fusion events using whole RNA-seq "transcriptome" analysis or targeted RNA-seq analysis such as the Archer FusionPlex technology. Aim 3: Compare the results of our enhanced molecular profiling vs. that which is detectable by traditional methods as related to cytogenetic, molecular, and minimal residual disease analyses performed as part of standard of care. Aim 4: Examine the utility of comprehensive genomic profiling by collection and evaluation of outcomes data as related to enhancement/alteration in diagnosis, prognosis, treatment management, and clinical benefit. Secondary Objective: Aim 1: Use and clinically validate expanded laboratory methodologies and bioinformatic approaches to more broadly assess genomic complexity (e.g. whole genome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, in vitro analyses, minimal residual disease testing, clonality assays, proteomics) in the setting of hematologic and oncologic disease. In so doing, we aspire to make novel discoveries and associations, as related to disease phenotypes and subtypes, variant causality, therapeutic targeting, and cancer biology.

  Study phs001820

• Mobile Technology to Identify Mechanisms Linking Genetic Variation and Depression in Intern Health Study (IHS)

  The Intern Health Study is an NIH-funded longitudinal cohort study that assesses stress and mood in medical interns at institutions around the US, enrolling over 3000 new interns each year. We are hopeful that data collected in this study will further understanding of the psychological, genetic, and program factors involved in the development of depression under stress, and make a real change in the residency experience.

  Study phs001826

• Genetic Studies of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

  The Genetic Studies of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is an ongoing genetic research and biobanking protocol which aims to elucidate the genetic basis CKD. The study recruits patients seen at the Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) Nephrology Division for the evaluation and care of CKD. All patients clinically diagnosed with CKD are eligible to participate; there are no inclusion or exclusion criteria related to age, sex/gender, and/or race/ethnicity. In addition to office visits, patients are recruited in contexts including perinatal care and nonprofit events for patients with various forms of CKD; recruitment tools include bilingual informational brochures, flyers, and consent forms. All individuals provide informed consent; for minors, signature of the parent/guardian is required. Consent includes: use of biosamples given for genetic studies, and the request to be re-contacted if medically actionable genetic findings are identified. In the case of the latter, such research-level findings are first validated in a clinically certified (CLIA) laboratory environment, using a second sample given by the individual at the time of re-contact; following CLIA validation, the individual is once again re-contacted, and, assuming he or she still desires return of these results, they can then be returned. Following the above consent process to participate in the study, individuals provide a single biosample (generally, a venous blood sample), from which DNA is extracted using standard protocols and used for genetic studies, such as exome sequencing. Basic clinical and demographic data, including sex/gender, age, and race/ethnicity are also collected. All data collected is stored in a secure computerized database, with patient samples anonymized using numerical identifiers; the relation of this identifier to patients' names is kept in a locked computer file in a centralized database. Electronic data complies with all HIPAA and other privacy and security regulations, and resides on a firewall server maintained by the CUMC IT department.

  Study phs001828

• Elucidating Transcription Regulation by Epigenetics in Neuroblastoma

  PURPOSE Whole-genome profiles of the epigenetic modification 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) are robust diagnostic biomarkers in adult patients with cancer. We investigated if 5-hmC profiles would serve as novel prognostic markers in neuroblastoma, a clinically heterogeneous pediatric cancer. Because this DNA modification facilitates active gene expression, we hypothesized that 5-hmC profiles would identify transcriptomic networks driving the clinical behavior of neuroblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Nano-hmC-Seal sequencing was performed on DNA from Discovery (n = 51), Validation (n = 38), and Children's Oncology Group (n = 20) cohorts of neuroblastoma tumors. RNA was isolated from 48 tumors for RNA sequencing. Genes with differential 5-hmC or expression between clusters were identified using DESeq2. A 5-hmC model predicting outcome in high-risk patients was established using linear discriminant analysis. RESULTS Comparison of low- versus high-risk tumors in the Discovery cohort revealed 577 genes with differential 5-hmC. Hierarchical clustering of tumors from the Discovery and Validation cohorts using these genes identified two main clusters highly associated with established prognostic markers, clinical risk group, and outcome. Genes with increased 5-hmC and expression in the favorable cluster were enriched for pathways of neuronal differentiation and KRAS activation, whereas genes involved in inflammation and the PRC2 complex were identified in the unfavorable cluster. The linear discriminant analysis model trained on high-risk Discovery cohort tumors was prognostic of outcome when applied to high-risk tumors from the Validation and Children's Oncology Group cohorts (hazard ratio, 3.8). CONCLUSION 5-hmC profiles may be optimal DNA-based biomarkers in neuroblastoma. Analysis of transcriptional networks regulated by these epigenomic modifications may lead to a deeper understanding of drivers of neuroblastoma phenotype. "Reprinted from Applebaum et. JCO Precision Oncology, 2019, with permission from creative commons license."

  Study phs001831

• Genetic Model of MS Severity Predicts Future Accumulation of Disability

  The goal of "Comprehensive Multimodal Analysis of Neuroimmunological Diseases of the CNS" is to define the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of disability in immune-mediated disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and to distinguish these from physiological (and often beneficial) responses of the human immune system to CNS injury. The long-term objective of the trial is to acquire knowledge that would allow us to therapeutically inhibit the pathogenic mechanisms and enhance repair mechanisms in immune-mediated CNS diseases, thereby minimizing the extent of CNS tissue damage and promoting recovery. To date, 460 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been enrolled into the natural history clinical trial. In addition to standardized clinical, functional, neuroimaging and molecular/immunological data, blood samples were also collected for genetic research. However, only 299 study participants with confirmed MS currently have whole genome sequencing data available. In addition to the genome-wide data available for the 299 MS patients, this dbGaP submission provides demographic and phenotypic information for each subject collected at various points throughout the trial. We include race and family history of MS collected at the baseline visit as well as age and measures of disease severity collected at the most recent visit. As these data were randomized into discovery and validation cohorts, we also indicate the assigned group in the phenotypic data. It is hoped that these data may be applied to the development of clinically-useful tools such as diagnostic tests and new, sensitive scales of neurological disability, disease severity and CNS tissue destruction.

  Study phs001833

• Whole-Exome Sequencing and Targeted DNA Sequencing of Matched Ocular Melanocytosis and Uveal Melanoma

  Ocular melanocytosis is the most important predisposing condition for the eye cancer uveal melanoma (UM). Here we used whole-exome and deep targeted sequencing to identify for the first time a clonal Gq pathway mutation in ocular melanocytosis, which gave rise to UM. Additionally, we elucidated the order in which canonical genetic aberrations were acquired during tumor evolution. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the well-known clinical association of ocular melanocytosis with UM, and they provide new insights into UM tumor evolution. Reprinted from: Durante MA, Field MG, Sanchez MI, Covington KR, Decatur CL, Dubovy SR, Harbour JW. Genomic evolution of uveal melanoma arising in ocular melanocytosis, with permission from Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies.

  Study phs001835

• CADD/GADD centers on Antisocial Drug Dependence

  CADD (Center for Antisocial Drug Dependence): Funded through NIDA 011015 to study genetic influences on, and treatment of, antisocial drug dependence, studying both clinical probands and their families, and community samples of matched controls, twins, and participants in an ongoing longitudinal adoption study. A collaboration between three organizations at two campuses of the University of Colorado. Longitudinal with three waves of data collection completed. GADD (Genetics of Adolescent Antisocial Drug Dependence): Funded originally through NIDA 012845, s multisite collaboration including adolescent subjects at high-risk for antisocial drug dependence and their siblings, recruited in Denver, CO and San Diego, CA. Longitudinal with two waves of data collection completed, one in progress as of May, 2018.

  Study phs001841

• RNAseq of Sjögren's Syndrome and Healthy Volunteers' Salivary Glands

  Mechanistic genetic and inflammatory endpoints were studied to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of Sjögren's syndrome. Transcriptomic studies allowed the exploration of molecular alterations that might cause or influence the studied salivary gland pathology and potentially elucidate druggable pathways for intervention.

  Study phs001842

• Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Hematopoietic Progenitors from Healthy Donors and Bone Marrow Failure Patients

  The purpose of this study was to define transcriptional changes that occur in the rare and heterogeneous bone marrow progenitors that are affected in Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. Data are reported for four genetically confirmed SDS patients ranging from 11-26 years old, 3 male and 1 female, and four healthy donors ranging from 25-29 years old, 2 male and 2 female. Subjects provided written, informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki's Ethical Principles of Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. Single CD34+ cells were purified from fresh bone marrow and cDNA libraries were prepared using the SMARTer Ultra Low RNA Kit (Clontech; pre-2015) or SMART-Seq v4 Ultra Low RNA Kit (Clontech; post-2015). Libraries were sequenced on a HiSeq 2500 Instrument (Illumina, San Diego, CA) to a read depth of ~3 M paired-end, 25 bp reads per single cell. Paired-end reads were mapped to the hg38 human transcriptome (Gencode v24) using STAR v2.4.2a.

  Study phs001845

• Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program in Genetics at the Intersection of Childhood Cancer and Birth Defects

  The Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) is a trans-NIH effort initiated in response to the 2014 Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and supported by the NIH Common Fund. This program focuses on gene discovery in pediatric cancers and structural birth defects and the development of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Data Resource (Kids First Data Resource). All of the WGS and phenotypic data from this study are accessible through dbGaP and kidsfirstdrc.org, where other Kids First datasets can also be accessed. Birth defects and childhood cancer share biological pathways that are important for cell growth and division. We propose that sequencing pediatric patients suffering both conditions will allow us to discover the underlying genes and in turn advance our understanding of the causes of these devastating diseases.

  Study phs001846

• Characterization of Structural Variants in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

  Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults and is expected to increase in frequency as the population ages. Most subtypes of AML are difficult to treat, in part due to a lack of understanding of possible molecular targets. Furthermore, the peak incidence of AML is in the sixth decade, and patients over the age of 65 do not tolerate chemotherapeutic regimens well. Moreover, AML has been highly studied as a model for other cancers. An RNA Biology Program is established aiming to develop comprehensive datasets through the profiling of all different classes of RNA expression, RNA editing, alternative splicing, and non-coding RNAs in CD34+ normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), their differentiated progeny, and AML clinical samples that could be utilized to understand leukemia. These datasets will allow us to computationally identify and characterize various RNA species and processes to enable the development of effective therapeutics to AML, leukemia and other types of cancers. Epigenetic factors such as methylation and histone modifications will also be characterized from these clinical samples allowing for integrated dataset analysis to look at the cross-talk between RNA and DNA/epigenomics in leukemia. The following is a subsidiary study of the above study description where whole genome sequencing was performed on two collected AML patients' samples using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing technologies. The aim is to characterize the roles of structural variants (SV) in RNA biology which are potentially important for AML development using our own established long-read SV characterization tool, NanoVar. The advent of Oxford Nanopore sequencing technologies has opened a new avenue for better SV characterization by having longer sequencing reads. NanoVar is an accurate and rapid SV characterization tool that utilizes low-depth Nanopore sequencing data. NanoVar makes use of split-reads and hard-clipped reads for SV discovery and employs a simulation-trained neural network classifier for true positive enrichment. NanoVar exhibited higher accuracy and faster computational speed amongst other long-read SV detection tools in simulated data. In AML patient data, NanoVar displayed excellent accuracy in SV characterization (16/16 SVs validated in two patients) by using only 4x depth sequencing data. In summary, NanoVar improves the accuracy and speed of SV characterization at a lower sequencing cost, an approach compatible with clinical studies.

  Study phs001847

• RNA sequencing, ATACseq, and TCR-seq of Tfh cells and CXCR5- CD4+ T cells in HIV infected lymph nodes

  The high dimensional analyses of CD4+ T cells in human lymph nodes are case-based analyses of the TCR repertoire, transcriptome, and epigenetic signatures of various CD4+ T cells in human lymph nodes. The study aims to determine clonal overlap between phenotypically distinct CD4+ T cells and the similarities between these populations on transcriptional and epigenetic levels. This study performs TCR repertoire sequencing using Molecular Identifier Clustering-based Immune Repertoire Sequencing (MIDCIRS). We found clonal overlap between a population of CXCR5- T cells and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. We also show epigenetic and transcriptional similarities between CXCR5-PD-1+ T cells and Tfh cells. This study shares an overlapping set of donors with phs001548.

  Study phs001849

• A Phenotypic and Genomics Approach in a Multi-Ethnic Cohort to Subtype Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems and varies in severity across different populations. To examine the clinical heterogeneity of SLE, we sought to identify different lupus subtypes within our multi-ethnic cohort using a clustering approach. Additionally, with genome-wide methylation and genotype data generated for our cohort, we applied integrative methods to investigate genetic and epigenetic risk factors. This integrative and computational approach revealed molecular differences associated with phenotypic clusters.

  Study phs001850

• Analysis of the Genetic Basis of Height in Large Jewish Nuclear Families

  This is a family based study of the genetic basis of height, which focused on very large nuclear families (10 siblings or more, average of 12), all from a founder (Jewish) population. All participants have completed their growth. This study design increases the frequency of some genetic variants that are rare in a cosmopolitan population but segregate in our cohort. Participants were genotyped with a ~630,000 SNP array (Affymetrix Axiom Biobank), and their standing height, sitting height and arm span were measured with high accuracy (±0.1 cm, with 4 technical repeats). All genomic coordinates refer to genome build hg19.

  Study phs001852

• Transdisciplinary Studies of Genetic Variation in Colorectal Cancer(CORECT): Axiom GWAS

  This study is part 1 of 2 for Schumacher et al, Nat Commun. 2015 Jul 7;6:7138. Part 1 is the original GWAS data for 9,259 participants on the Affymetrix Axiom platform of the studies listed below in the Inclusion Criteria.

  Study phs001856

• Genetics of Mammographic Density in Ashkenazi Jews

  Mammographic density (MD) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer and is also a highly heritable trait with ~60-70% of the variance due to genetic factors, based on twin studies. MD is also higher in families with a strong history of breast cancer. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which focus on common genetic variants, have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with MD. However, these SNPs explain a very small fraction of the variance of MD, suggesting many other genes are involved. Thus, the vast majority of the heritability of mammographic density remains unexplained and may be explained, at least in part, by rare variants. Ashkenazi Jewish women are a founder population; founder populations frequently have alleles affecting phenotypes which may be unique and/or extremely rare in other populations. Prior reports have identified an association between higher mammographic density and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Therefore, we developed a study of mammographic density in AJ women. We combined datasets from several different cohorts including (a) the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute (b) the Athena Breast Health Cohort and (c) the Marin Women's study. In each study, we identified women who reported AJ ancestry (determined by self-report or by genetic analysis). We identified mammograms by linking the women to the San Francisco Mammography Registry. We retrieved digital mammographic results and used software to infer volumetric density and percent volumetric density for each woman. We then performed genome-wide genotyping of the samples using the Illumina MEGA array.

  Study phs001857

• Genetics and Pathophysiology of Autoinflammatory Disorders

  In this study, patients with suspected disorders of inflammation and innate immune system dysregulation will undergo whole exome sequencing. This will involve both family studies (often trios or multiplex families including affected and unaffected individuals) and sporadic cases. The overall objective is to discover rare/novel high-penetrance mutations in genes that have not yet been implicated as the cause of monogenic autoinflammatory diseases. The aim also includes discovery of variants associated with inflammatory disease susceptibility.

  Study phs001860

• Michigan Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB) Exposure Registry

  Humans are exposed to chemicals such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) at unprecedented levels, and a wide variety of health effects are attributed to such exposures. However, the biological mechanisms that link exposures to its consequences remain unknown. An industrial accident in the 1970's exposed over 4000 individuals in rural Michigan to polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), a BFR that was present in the food supply for years prior to detection and management. Health effects are still evident in these individuals and their children. Because this population has been assessed regularly since the exposure, it is an ideal group in which to examine the molecular mechanisms that contribute to susceptibility, vulnerability and health effects. The goal of this project is to identify the genetic variants that associate with the rate of PBB elimination over time and integrate genetic and epigenetic datasets and identify complex gene-environment relationships in PBB exposed individuals. We will leverage data generated as part of past and ongoing studies in the Michigan Polybrominated Biphenyl Registry. We anticipate that this study will provide insight into how genetic variants and the environment interact in relation to PBB exposure and its health effects. We also anticipate the results of this study will be informative for studies of BFRs and other endocrine disrupting compounds with similar chemical properties. Note that methylation array data is available from NCBI GEO under GSE116339: Exposure to Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB) Associates with DNA Methylation Differences Across the Genome

  Study phs001862

• Cutaneous Melanoma GWAS Combining Multiple Populations and Risk Phenotypes

  Most genetic susceptibility to cutaneous melanoma (CM) remains to be discovered. Meta-analysis genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 36,760 melanoma cases (67% newly-genotyped) and 375,188 controls identified 54 significant loci with 68 independent SNPs. Analysis of risk estimates across geographical regions and host factors suggests the acral melanoma subtype is uniquely unrelated to pigmentation. Combining this meta-analysis with nevus count and hair colour GWAS, and transcriptome association approaches, uncovered 31 potential secondary loci, for a total of 85 CM susceptibility loci. These findings provide substantial insights into CM genetic architecture, reinforcing the importance of nevogenesis, pigmentation, and telomere maintenance together with identifying potential new pathways for CM pathogenesis.

  Study phs001868

• ADHD Genomic Association Study

  Studies at Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands, has recruited participants with ADHD and participants without ADHD, which included matched healthy controls and family members of participants with ADHD. ADHD participants met DSM-IV-TR criteria for ADHD. DNAs of these participants, 1005 samples, were anonymously genotyped with Illumina PsychArray. These samples were not part of the PGC-ADHD group. After removing family members, 820 case/control independent samples, including 211 ADHD cases, went through genomic association analyses. Results of ADHD risk genetic markers were compared with genetic markers associated with brain structure alterations in ADHD in adults and adolescents.

  Study phs001869

• Nature and Contribution of Noncoding, Regulatory Mutations in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

  This dbGaP study contains variant call files generated from whole-genome sequencing data of families with autism. The variant callers include FreeBayes, GATK, Platypus, and Strelka2. A family-level VCF file, from each caller, is provided for each family in the study. The families included in this study are from the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), the Study of Autism Genetics Exploration (SAGE), and The Autism Simplex Collection (TASC); sequencing was performed at the New York Genome Center, as part of the Centers for Common Disease Genomics (CCDG) Consortium. The analysis to generate the variant callsets was supported by a K99 Pathway to Independence grant to Dr. Tychele Turner (1K99MH117165-01). *Access to phenotype data at the individual level for Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) subjects can be requested from SFARI Base: https://www.sfari.org/resource/sfari-base/.

  Study phs001874

• Determinants of Venetoclax Resistance

  The study aimed to identify genetic determinants of resistance to Venetoclax, a recently approved BCL-2 inhibitor for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Whole exome sequencing of tumor samples from 6 CLL patients relapsing on Venetoclax revealed clonal evolution when comparing pre- and post-Venetoclax samples. Genetic screens for genes involved in sensitivity to Venetoclax and investigations of resistant cell lines (including OCI-Ly1) revealed MCL-1 and regulators of cellular energy metabolism (AMPK pathway) to drive resistance to Venetoclax. Further explorations of patient samples confirmed MCL-1 expression and AMPK activation to be increased at relapse on Venetoclax.

  Study phs001875

• Predictive impact of rare genomic copy number variations in siblings of individuals with autism spectrum disorders

  Identification of genetic biomarkers associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) could improve recurrence prediction for families with a child with ASD. Here, we describe clinical microarray findings for 253 longitudinally phenotyped ASD families from the Baby Siblings Research Consortium (BSRC), encompassing 288 infant siblings. By age 3, 103 siblings (35.8%) were diagnosed with ASD and 54 (18.8%) were developing atypically. Thirteen siblings have copy number variants (CNVs) involving ASD-relevant genes: 6 with ASD, 5 atypically developing, and 2 typically developing. Within these families, an ASD-related CNV in a sibling has a positive predictive value (PPV) for ASD or atypical development of 0.83; the Simons Simplex Collection of ASD families shows similar PPVs. Polygenic risk analyses suggest that common genetic variants may also contribute to ASD. CNV findings would have been pre-symptomatically predictive of ASD or atypical development in 11 (7%) of the 157 BSRC siblings who were eventually diagnosed clinically.

  Study phs001876

• Genetics of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

  Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a common extranodal T-cell lymphoma primarily arising in the skin. In early disease stages, MF presents as skin patches and plaques that in some cases may progress to tumor and disperse to lymph nodes and other internal organs. The 10-year overall survival is 50% in advanced stages. Early diagnosis is difficult as the histology overlaps with features of inflammatory skin diseases. Even when the diagnosis is established, there are no prognostic markers that predict whether the disease will be aggressive or indolent. Lastly, there are no curative treatments and MF will invariably relapse, even after aggressive chemotherapy. The disease is a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic challenge. The main objective of this study is to address the question of tumor heterogeneity in MF. To date, MF is considered to be monoclonal, derived from a transformed, mature memory T-cell. However, clinical observations and preliminary data suggest that MF comprises multiple subclones, which may be of importance for understanding disease evolution and resistance to therapy. We plan to address this objective using Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) of MF tissue prepared by laser microdissection (LMD).

  Study phs001877

• OncoArray: Follow-up of Ovarian Cancer Genetic Association and Interaction Studies (FOCI)

  The Follow-up of Ovarian Cancer Genetic Association and Interaction Studies (FOCI) was one of five projects funded in 2010 as part of the NCI's Genetic Associations and Mechanisms in Oncology (GAME-ON) initiative (http://epi.grants.cancer.gov/gameon/). FOCI represents a collective effort that builds upon the strengths and history of collaboration inherent in the Ovarian Cancer Association Consortium (OCAC), a multidisciplinary group comprised of epidemiologists, genetic epidemiologists, statistical geneticists, molecular and cell biologists and clinicians that was formed in 2005. The other four funded GAME-ON projects were: the ColoRectal TransdisciplinaryStudy (CORECT), Elucidating Loci Involved in Prostate Cancer Susceptibility (ELLIPSE), Discovery, Biology, and Risk of Inherited Variants in Breast Cancer (DRIVE), and Transdisciplinary Research in Cancer of the Lung (TRICL). As part of our aim to discover, expand, and replicate ovarian cancer susceptibility loci, the GAME-ON projects and other consortia formed the OncoArray network (http://epi.grants.cancer.gov/oncoarray/) to develop and genotype a new custom genotyping array in large numbers of cancer cases and controls (over 400,000 samples) across multiple cancer types. The FOCI data includes over 50,000 ovarian cancer cases and controls genotyped with the Oncoarray at the Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR). Genotype calling and quality control procedures were performed under a standardized protocol across the Oncoarray consortium, and over 490,000 SNPs passed QC and are included under this dbGaP submission.

  Study phs001882

• The Etiological Bases of Giftedness: Epidemiological Study of Cognitive Ability in Children in Saudi Arabia

  Recent studies of genetic foundations of cognitive ability rely on large samples (hundreds of thousands) of individuals from relatively outbred populations of mostly European ancestry. Hypothesizing that the genetic foundation of cognitive ability depends on the broader population-specific genetic context, we performed a genome-wide association study and homozygosity mapping of cognitive ability estimates obtained through latent variable modeling in a sample of 354 children from the consanguineous population of Saudi Arabia. Approximately half of the sample demonstrated significantly elevated homozygosity levels indicative of inbreeding, and among those with elevated homozygosity, it was negatively associated with cognitive ability. Further homozygosity mapping identified a specific run, inclusive of the GRIA4 gene, that survived corrections for multiple testing for association with cognitive ability. The results suggest that in a consanguineous population, a notable proportion of the variance in cognitive ability in the normal range in children might be regulated by population-specific mechanisms such as patterns of elevated autozygosity.

  Study phs001884

• Genetic Control of Expression and Splicing in Developing Human Brain

  Most genetic risk for human diseases lies within non-coding regions of the genome that are predicted to regulate gene expression in a tissue- and stage-specific manner. Given the importance of regulatory pathways during brain development, we characterized the genetic control of the transcriptome in 201 mid-gestational human brains, identifying 7962 eQTL and 4635 sQTL. By integration with GWAS, we characterized the genes and isoforms contributing to specific neuropsychiatric disorders, including SCZ and ASD, as well as other cognition or behavioral-related phenotypes. SCZ and ASD impact distinct developmental gene co-expression modules, yet in both disorders, common and rare genetic variation converge. These analyses demonstrate the highly distinctive effects of transcriptional control, as well as divergent age-related contributions to disease. More broadly, these findings demonstrate the genetic mechanisms by which early developmental events have a striking and widespread influence on adult anatomical and behavioral phenotypes.

  Study phs001900

• Center for Common Disease Genomics (CCDG) Neuropsychiatric: Homozygosity Mapping Consortium for Autism (HMCA)

  In this study, we address the enormous challenges common complex diseases pose for genomic analysis and the enormous opportunities surmounting them offers for advancing healthcare. The common genetic disorders proposed for study are believed to have extreme locus heterogeneity, requiring the analysis of large numbers of samples to comprehensively identify the genomic variants underlying them. We propose that a combination of deep population studies and joint analysis of SNPs, indels, and structural variants, both in coding and noncoding regions, will provide the next level of understanding of common genetic disorders. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) will be critical to this next-generation approach to the genomics of complex disease. WGS will need to be accompanied by the technical ability to generate and handle very large data sets, a particular focus and strength of NYGC. WGS will also need to be accompanied by new statistical tools and algorithms, which will be developed by the strong core group committed to this proposal. An overarching goal of this proposal, one that capitalizes on the power of WGS, is to identify disease-associated variants at the individual nucleotide level. In many cases, pathogenic mutations fall in noncoding regions of the genome, which can only be fruitfully explored with WGS. A major effort was put into building new computational strategies to functionally annotate noncoding transcribed sequences, and to build new datasets to enable such strategies, opening new frontiers of understanding of disease-related regulatory variants.

  Study phs001894

• Altered chromosomal topology drives oncogenic programs in gastrointestinal stromal tumors

  Metabolic lesions with pleiotropic effects on epigenetic regulation and other cellular processes are widely implicated in cancer, yet their oncogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficiency causes a subset of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) with DNA hyper-methylation. Here we associate this hyper-methylation with changes in chromosome topology that activate oncogenic programs. To investigate epigenetic alterations in this disease, we systematically mapped DNA methylation, CTCF insulators, enhancers and chromosome topology in KIT-mutant, PDGFRA-mutant and SDH-deficient GISTs. Although these respective subtypes share similar enhancer landscapes, we identified hundreds of putative insulators where DNA methylation replaced CTCF binding in SDH-deficient GISTs. We focused on disrupted insulators that partitions super-enhancers from FGF3, FGF4 and the KIT oncogene. Recurrent loss of this insulator alters locus topology in SDH-deficient GISTs, allowing aberrant physical interaction between enhancers and oncogenes. CRISPR-mediated excision of the corresponding CTCF motif in an SDH-intact model disrupted the boundary and up-regulated FGFs and KIT expression. Our findings reveal how a metabolic lesion destabilizes chromatin structure to facilitate the initiation and selection of epigenetic alterations that drive oncogenic programs in the absence of canonical mutations.

  Study phs001906

• NIAID Centralized Sequencing Program

  Investigators at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) use next-generation sequencing technologies to help determine genetic contributions to immune diseases. These efforts have increased rates of molecular diagnosis for a subset of NIAID participants as well as uncovered fundamental insights into the cellular and signaling pathways in host defense and immune regulation. Despite these successes, analysis and interpretation of genomic data remain a substantial challenge. Simply, researchers do not understand the functional and clinical consequences of most human genetic variation. Making progress in this area requires a coordinated, systematic, and transparent approach to clinical genomics research. This protocol is specific to genetic testing and explicitly aims to both strengthen clinical care and enhance research. Probands provide biological specimens for genetic testing and primary clinical and research evaluations are completed via a research protocol at NIAID. This protocol serves as a vehicle for a programmatic effort that includes standardized phenotyping, test ordering through the Clinical Research Information System (CRIS) at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, sample collection and isolation, nucleic acid analysis, bioinformatics, clinical interpretation, reporting in CRIS, genetic counseling, and supporting effective use of genomics as a research tool throughout the institute. Overall, increased process standardization will support data integrity and efficiency while still accommodating the need for investigator flexibility. This study aims to generate and analyze evidence regarding the genetic contribution to diverse immune diseases studied by the NIAID intramural research program.

  Study phs001899

• Center for Common Disease Genomics [CCDG] - Cardiovascular: Genetics of Coronary Heart Disease - Characterizaton of Coronary Prone Pedigrees

  The primary cohort includes samples from 499 men and 154 women who survived a myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) by age 55 years for men or age 65 years for women. Patients were seen at least six months after their acute event. Samples from another 488 men and 541 women that showed a nearly identical age, gender, and measured blood pressure distribution were collected as population-based controls. These controls tended to live in urban Salt Lake City, where the vast majority of the population is Caucasian. Blood samples were collected in the morning after 12h to 16h of fasting and prepared according to guidelines of the Lipid Research Clinic's program Manual of Laboratory Operations. All samples have serum, DNA and/or white blood cells, and a host of measurements (e.g. standard clinical chemistries, LDL and HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, HbA1C, insulin, blood pressures, anthropometric data, information on medical conditions and drug use, etc.). Additional details about the cohort or sample preparation were published previously. Here we present in total 1,475 patients that were successfully sequenced. This number includes 228 women, 419 men, and 7 of unreported gender survivors as well as 339 women and 482 men that served as population-based controls.

  Study phs001901

• Whole Exome Sequencing Study of TGFΒ Pathway Genes in HCV Liver Fibrosis

  Despite the astonishing progress in treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with direct-acting antiviral agents, liver fibrosis remains a major health concern in HCV infected patients, in particular due to the treatment cost and insufficient HCV screening in many countries. Only a fraction of patients with chronic HCV infection develop liver fibrosis. While there is evidence that host genetic factors are involved in the development of liver fibrosis, the common variants identified so far, in particular by genome-wide association studies, were found to have limited effects. Here, we conducted an exome association study in 88 highly selected HCV-infected patients with and without fibrosis. A strategy focusing on TGF-β pathway genes revealed an enrichment in rare variants of the endoglin gene (ENG) in fibrosis patients. Replication studies in additional cohorts (617 patients) identified one specific ENG variant, Thr5Met, with an overall odds ratio for fibrosis development in carriers of 3.04 (1.39-6.69). Our results suggest that endoglin, a key player in TGF-β signaling, is involved in HCV-related liver fibrogenesis.

  Study phs001902

• Identifying novel DNA damage response genes in radiosensitive individuals

  Ionizing radiation is an effective therapeutic agent for cancer treatment as well as a potent carcinogen. Sensitivity to the cell-killing effects of radiation can vary across human population with a subset of individuals displaying extreme hypersensitivity. It is usually attributable to inherited defects in DNA damage response pathways. The present study was designed to elucidate the genetic basis of variation in hypersensitivity to radiation exposure through exome sequencing of radiosensitive individuals, with the ultimate goal of identifying genes with the most significant effects on cellular DNA damage responses. The study participants included subjects referred for clinical testing for Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (NBS) or Ligase IV Syndrome. These are rare, recessive genetic disorders and hypersensitivity to radiation exposure is a common phenotype among individuals affected by all the three disorders. The study participants exhibited phenotypic characteristics similar to individuals with A-T, NBS or Ligase IV Syndrome, but lacked the causative mutations in ATM (GeneID:472) or NBN (GeneID:4683) genes. For further validation of the radiation sensitivity phenotype among the enrolled subjects, B-lymphoblastoid cells lines were established for each subject from peripheral blood lymphocytes. Each cell line was evaluated for displaying impaired survival rates relative to normal controls after exposure to ionizing radiation. 53 subjects with validated phenotype were finally included in the study and DNA extracted from their B-lymphoblastoid cell lines was used for exome sequencing. This sequencing data for radiation sensitive subjects is being made available in the dbGaP. It is hoped that this resource will be beneficial for researchers who wish to further investigate components of human cellular DNA damage response pathways and/or genetic architecture underlying radiation hypersensitivity. This data may also aid in the rational design of new radiosensitizing or radioprotective agents.

  Study phs001911

• Pilot Sequencing Study: DNA Hydroxymethylation and Gene Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Healthy Human Aging

  This study was a pilot analysis of samples of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) from 10 young (23-30 years) and 10 older (68-76 years) healthy Caucasian female volunteers. Whole genome sequencing was performed to assess multiple epigenetic mechanisms and gene expression, including 5hmC-capture sequencing and RNA-sequencing, followed by integrative analyses to identify regions and genes associated with age.

  Study phs001916