Integrative Computational Biology for Analysis of NHLBI TOPMed Data

How and when will investigators know what omics data are available from TOPMed?

Some omics data is currently available through collaboration with existing TOPMed studies. More information on current TOPMed studies can be found at https://www.nhlbiwgs.org/. We are also currently piloting omics with a large cohort of culturally diverse individuals. We anticipate this data to become available to the public at the end of 2017. Additionally, TOPMed anticipates adding other omics data to the program in Phase IV, with sample submission likely beginning in the fall of 2017.

Do responses to this RFA have to be limited to the dbGaP public data?

Although much of the TOPMed whole genome sequence and variant call files can be found in dbGaP, applications do not have to be limited to publicly available data. Investigators who wish to use TOPMed data not found in dbGaP are encouraged to contact TOPMed study PIs directly to set up collaborations. In addition, other publicly available or investigator-generated data is permissible. However, the majority of data in the proposal must come from the TOPMed program. More information about current TOPMed studies can be found at https://www.nhlbiwgs.org/.

Is there a timeline for when RNA-seq will be released?

TOPMed is currently piloting RNA-seq and other omics on a large sample set from a culturally diverse population. We anticipate that this data will come available to the public at the end of 2017. Other TOPMed studies have omics data currently available and we encourage applicants to contact current TOPMed investigators to form collaborations.

Will this FOA support mechanistic studies?

This FOA seeks to fund cross-omics analysis of TOPMed data to reveal the biological underpinnings of HLBS disease. Although the volume of whole genome and other omics data has increased exponentially, trans-omics data analysis on a large scale remains a hurdle. Thus, we seek to fund computational and systems analysis of existing TOPMed data and do not anticipate funding additional data collection for mechanistic studies at this time.

Does this FOA support methods development?

This FOA seeks to fund studies that adapt or modify existing computational tools to analyze TOPMed data. Although this initiative is intended to support data analysis, it is not intended to primarily support the development of new computational methods. A recent FOA RFA-HL-17-011 was previously released to support the development of new methods to analyze TOPMed data.