The Mayo Clinic and Illinois Alliance is gathering feedback from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researchers in regard to a grand challenge proposed by the Mayo Clinic. The challenge is to develop a pipeline from genomic sequencing to clinically relevant interpretation of the data for 10,000 patient genomes per year. Information gathered through this request will inform the Illinois working group on how to proceed, by highlighting significant areas of interest from the Urbana campus.
Background
The Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine (CIM), Illinois’ major collaborator in the Mayo Clinic and Illinois Alliance, has proposed that the Alliance focus its efforts on a grand challenge: the 10,000 Genome Project. The challenge is to develop a pipeline capable of sequencing, analyzing, visualizing, and interpreting genomes of at least 10,000 patients per year, each within 48 hours. This is a short enough window of time for Mayo patients to receive their results and treatment plans before leaving the Clinic.
This challenge has the potential to build and strengthen the already successful partnership between the Mayo Clinic and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The 10,000 Genomes Project is anticipated to result in funding opportunities for Illinois investigators and will make more resources available through the alliance with Mayo Clinic.
A working group has been established at Illinois to identify strengths on the Urbana campus that are relevant to this challenge, as well as to shape the direction and scope of Illinois’ involvement to maximize impact. The working group is asking for Illinois researchers to submit project ideas that specifically address or are related to the topics below. Project ideas that bring together multi-disciplinary researchers will be considered as having a greater impact and importance to the Urbana campus.
Information Requested
The following areas of interest have been identified by the working group. Ideas above and beyond these are welcomed.
- Interpretation of genome variants
- Automation of variant calling
- De novo genome assembly
- Integrated analysis of genomic data with the entire health profile (i.e., environment, lifestyle, etc.)
- Data visualization
- Other
Submissions should include: a description of the project idea including potential impact to the Urbana campus; a proposed research team at Illinois (preferably multi-disciplinary); and description of anticipated resources required to complete the work, including a best estimate of specific data, laboratory and computational needs. Suggestions for desired collaborators at the Mayo Clinic may be included, but are not required.
Submission Process
Submit responses electronically through the online submission form by January 13, 2017. Responses should be no longer than two pages (single-spaced, 1-inch margins, minimum 10 pt. font size). References are not included in the two-page limit.
Questions? Email healthinitiative@illinois.edu.