Searching across hundreds of databases
Large-scale projects in the fields of cancer genomics and epigenomics have different aims, cultures and outcomes. The author argues that by working together a complete picture of cancer biology could be painted, and he advocates the creation of an International Cancer Epigenome Consortium.
Pubmed ID: 25031623 RIS Download
Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.
Project exploring the spectrum of genomic changes involved in more than 20 types of human cancer that provides a platform for researchers to search, download, and analyze data sets generated. As a pilot project it confirmed that an atlas of changes could be created for specific cancer types. It also showed that a national network of research and technology teams working on distinct but related projects could pool the results of their efforts, create an economy of scale and develop an infrastructure for making the data publicly accessible. Its success committed resources to collect and characterize more than 20 additional tumor types. Components of the TCGA Research Network: * Biospecimen Core Resource (BCR); Tissue samples are carefully cataloged, processed, checked for quality and stored, complete with important medical information about the patient. * Genome Characterization Centers (GCCs); Several technologies will be used to analyze genomic changes involved in cancer. The genomic changes that are identified will be further studied by the Genome Sequencing Centers. * Genome Sequencing Centers (GSCs); High-throughput Genome Sequencing Centers will identify the changes in DNA sequences that are associated with specific types of cancer. * Proteome Characterization Centers (PCCs); The centers, a component of NCI's Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium, will ascertain and analyze the total proteomic content of a subset of TCGA samples. * Data Coordinating Center (DCC); The information that is generated by TCGA will be centrally managed at the DCC and entered into the TCGA Data Portal and Cancer Genomics Hub as it becomes available. Centralization of data facilitates data transfer between the network and the research community, and makes data analysis more efficient. The DCC manages the TCGA Data Portal. * Cancer Genomics Hub (CGHub); Lower level sequence data will be deposited into a secure repository. This database stores cancer genome sequences and alignments. * Genome Data Analysis Centers (GDACs) - Immense amounts of data from array and second-generation sequencing technologies must be integrated across thousands of samples. These centers will provide novel informatics tools to the entire research community to facilitate broader use of TCGA data. TCGA is actively developing a network of collaborators who are able to provide samples that are collected retrospectively (tissues that had already been collected and stored) or prospectively (tissues that will be collected in the future).
View all literature mentionsConsortium to further the understanding of how genes are activated or repressed in both healthy and diseased human cells with a focus on distinct types of haematopoietic cells from healthy individuals and on their malignant leukemic counterparts. They will generate at least 100 reference epigenomes and study them to advance and exploit knowledge of the underlying biological processes and mechanisms in health and disease. Reference epigenomes will be generated by state-of-the-art technologies from highly purified cells for a comprehensive set of epigenetic marks in accordance with quality standards set by International Human Epigenome Consortium (IHEC). Access to the data is provided as well as the protocols used to collect the different blood cell types, to perform the different types of epigenomic analyses, etc.). This resource-generating activity will be complemented by hypothesis-driven research into blood-based diseases, including common leukemias and autoimmune disease (Type 1 Diabetes), by discovery and validation of epigenetic markers for diagnostic use and by epigenetic target identification. Since epigenetic changes are reversible, they can be targets for the development of novel and more individualized medical treatments. The involvement of companies will energize epigenomic research in the private sector by the development of smart technologies for better diagnostic tests and by identifying new targets for compounds. Thus the results of the project may lead to targeted diagnostics, new treatments and preventive measures for specific diseases in individual patients, an approach known as "personalized medicine". The Blueprint Data Access Committee will consider applications for access to data sets stored in the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA) when authorized to do so by the Blueprint consortium and the holders of the original consent documents. Access is conditional upon availability of samples and/or data and signed agreement by the researcher(s) and the responsible employing Institution to abide by policies related to publication, data disposal, ethical approval and confidentiality. At EBI, the ftp site with the data can be found. You can either opt to link to the track hubs yourself or you can add the track hub to a genome browser - UCSC or ENSEMBL. Also Meta Data files and README are available. The data can also be accessed via the BIOMART system.
View all literature mentionsTHIS RESOURCE IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE. Documented on July 11, 2022. Project for human epigenomic data from experimental pipelines built around next-generation sequencing technologies to map DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility and small RNA transcripts in stem cells and primary ex vivo tissues selected to represent normal counterparts of tissues and organ systems frequently involved in human disease. Consortium expects to deliver collection of normal epigenomes that will provide framework or reference for comparison and integration within broad array of future studies. Consortium is also committed to development, standardization and dissemination of protocols, reagents and analytical tools to enable research community to utilize, integrate and expand upon this body of data.
View all literature mentionsThe SciCrunch Infrastructure was developed as a cooperative data platform to be used by diverse communities in making data more FAIR.
scicrunch.org
