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Human Genome News, March 1993; 4(6)
NIH, DOE Research Teams Play Key Role in Developing Large-Scale Technologies, Sharing Resources
Human genome research centers, which form an important component of the diverse U.S. Human Genome Project, are made up of several different but interrelated programs. Established by DOE and NIH to foster collaborations by teams of investigators from various disciplines, the centers address major tasks such as genetic and physical mapping, DNA sequencing, informatics related to mapping and sequencing, and technology development. Center projects are also exploring the personal and social impact of new genetic technologies and information.
DOE has designated three genome centers within its national laboratories. Contracts to these centers are funded annually and peer reviewed through site visits every 2 to 3 years. NIH currently supports 11 large-scale mapping and technology development projects (9 of which are funded as centers and 2 as program project grants) in various academic and private-sector institutions. These NIH 5-year grants are reviewed after 3 years, at which time renewal requests are assessed.
The DOE Office of Health and Environmental Research devotes $28.7 million or 46% of its genome program budget to its three genome centers. The NIH National Center for Human Genome Research spends slightly more than $26.5 million or 25% of its $106 million budget on large-scale mapping efforts.
Centers play a key role in improving and sharing genome research technology and resources through outside collaborations, public access to laboratory databases, and "visitor laboratories" at which visiting scientists can apply genome center expertise and technology to their own research. In addition, center resources, including biologicals, software and databases, instrumentation, and training opportunities, are available to the entire genome research community. Most centers offer outreach programs to clinicians, educators, journalists, and the general public to foster better understanding of human genetics and research.
All genome program researchers are encouraged to actively collaborate with the private sector and offer their resources and technologies for commercial development. Some center institutions have technology transfer offices; centers may be contacted for more information.
Links to short descriptions of NIH and DOE genome centers begin below. Listed are directors, contacts, principal investigators, research goals, some major achievements, and resources available to the entire genome research community.
HGMIS Staff
The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v4n6).
The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.
Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.
