NIH to bank genome-wide association data

As of January 25, 2008, researchers conducting genome-wide association studies with NIH funding will be required to submit their data, stripped of information that could identify individual study participants, to the a linkurl:central repository;http://www.genome.gov/Pages/About/OD/OPG/GWASFR-082807.pdf at the National Library of Medicine. The database will allow researchers not connected with an original study to mine another lab?s data in search of further gene associations. linkurl:Plans;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/25033/ for such a database were announced last year ? researchers and patient advocacy groups supported the idea, but raised concerns about issues such as participant privacy and the effect on researchers? ability to publish or derive patents from the data. The final rules for submission encourage researchers and institutions to look into obtaining a special dispensation for confidentiality in cases where particularly sensitive data may be obtained for non-legal purposes (like law enforcement agencies or insurance companies). They also promise to provide guidance to ORBs in developing...