NIH launches extensive open-access dataset of genetic and clinical data

NIH launches extensive open-access dataset of genetic and clinical data

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is launching one of the most extensive collections of genetic and clinical data ever made freely available to researchers worldwide. Called SHARe (SNP Health Association Resource), the Web-based dataset enables qualified researchers to access a wealth of data from large population-based studies, starting with the landmark Framingham Heart Study. Funded by the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), SHARe will accelerate discoveries linking genes and health, thereby advancing scientists' understanding of the causes and prevention of cardiovascular disease and other disorders.

SHARe is accessed through dbGaP, or the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/dbgap), a Web-based resource for archiving and distributing data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). GWAS explore the associations between genes (genotype information) and observable traits (phenotypes), such as weight, cholesterol levels, or the presence or absence of a disease.

Researchers interested in applying for access to individual-level Framingham SHARe data should follow the directions at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gap/cgi-bin/study.cgi?id=phs000007.

Source: NIH News announcement, October 1, 2007.