The Environmental Polymorphism Registry - a Unique... [Environ Health Perspect. 2011] - PubMed result

Environ Health Perspect. 2011 Jun 9. [Epub ahead of print]
The Environmental Polymorphism Registry - a Unique Resource that Facilitates Translational Research of Environmental Disease.
Chulada PC, Vainorius E, Garantziotis S, Burch LH, Blackshear PJ, Zeldin DC.
Source
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dissecting complex disease has become more feasible due to the availability of large-scale DNA resources and advances in high-throughput genomic technology. While these tools help scientists identify potential susceptibility loci, subjects with relevant genotypes are needed for clinical phenotyping and toxicity studies.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a resource of subjects and their DNAs to use for translational research of environmental disease.

METHODS: Over 15,000 individuals of diverse sex, age, race and ethnicity were recruited from North Carolina (NC). DNA was isolated from their bloods and coded with personal identification numbers (PINs) linked back to their identities. This linked resource of subjects and their DNAs (Environmental Polymorphism Registry or EPR) allows scientists to screen for individuals with "genotypes-of-interest" and invite them to participate in follow-up studies.

DISCUSSION: The EPR is a "phenotype-by-genotype" resource designed to facilitate translational studies of environmental disease. Based on their genotypes, subjects are invited to participate at all levels of research beginning with basic laboratory ex vivo cell phenotyping experiments that require viable tissue to in vivo observational studies and clinical trials. We report on progress of the EPR since 2008. We also describe a major effort at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to investigate susceptibility loci in 87 "environmental response genes" and "gene x environment" interactions using EPR subjects.

CONCLUSION: The EPR is a unique and novel resource, and ideal for genotype-driven translational research of environmental disease. We expect that it will serve as a model for future resources. Such tools help scientists attain their ultimate goals which are to identify "at risk populations" and develop strategies for preventing and treating human disease.

PMID:21659040[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Free full text
The Environmental Polymorphism Registry - a Unique... [Environ Health Perspect. 2011] - PubMed result


Environmental Health Perspectives: The Environmental Polymorphism Registry – a Unique Resource that Facilitates Translational Research of Environmental Disease