UM1HG012053

High-throughput Functional Annotation of Gene Regulatory Elements and Variants Critical to Complex Cellular Phenotypes - Abstract

Large-scale genome annotation consortia such as ENCODE, Epigenomics Roadmap, and others have identified millions of putative regulatory elements. We now need to focus efforts on comprehensively characterizing and quantifying the function of those elements, and noncoding variants that map within these regions, on gene expression and cell phenotypes.

Our long-term goal is to assign function to every regulatory element and noncoding variant in the human genome, understand how that function changes in different contexts, and use that information to better understand cell fitness, disease mechanisms, cell lineage specification, and tissue homeostasis.

To accomplish this goal, we have developed multiple novel high-throughput CRISPR-based technologies for characterizing the function of putative gene regulatory elements by perturbing their activity in their endogenous, native context. We have coupled these methods with single-cell RNA-seq to identify the target gene(s) for each regulatory element. We have also developed dCas9 effector mice to characterize elements in their natural in vivo context. In addition, we have developed population-based high-throughput reporter assays (POP-STARR) to characterize the impact of noncoding genetic variation across the entire genome.

The objective of this proposal is to apply and share our compendium of complementary, robust, scalable, and well-characterized methods by working collaboratively to support the IGVF Consortium goals of understanding how genomes and genomic variation function and orchestrate complex phenotypes. Our track record in developing, applying, and sharing these high-throughput characterization methods, as well as providing access to all data, supports that we will be successful in accomplishing our objective via the following specific aims:

Aim 1: Characterize all gene regulatory elements essential for cell survival.

Aim 2: Characterize all gene regulatory elements essential to cell lineage specification.

Aim 3: Characterize all gene regulatory elements in select eQTL regions.

Aim 4: Characterize all non-coding elements essential to tissue homeostasis in a mouse model.

We will make all data immediately available, as well as share comprehensive protocols, reagents, and analysis tools to the scientific community. Together, the diverse approaches of this characterization center will lead to transformative progress in understanding the role of regulatory elements and noncoding variants across many diverse phenotypes.

Duke University

NHGRI SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL ACCELERATE GENOME RESEARCH AND ITS APPLICATION TO HUMAN HEALTH AND GENOMIC MEDICINE. A CRITICAL PART OF THE NHGRI MISSION CONTINUES TO BE THE STUDY OF THE ETHICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS (ELSI) OF GENOME RESEARCH. NHGRI ALSO SUPPORTS THE TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF INVESTIGATORS AND THE DISSEMINATION OF GENOME INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM IS USED TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM IS USED TO FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.172 - Human Genome Research

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) [HHS - NIH]

Durham, North Carolina 277080001 United States

Single Zip Code

Systematic Characterization of Genomic Variation on Genomic Function and Phenotype (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-HG-20-043)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 828% from $956,415 to $8,874,835.