The ability to correlate genetic variation with disease susceptibility and response to drug therapy depends on genotype or sequence analysis of large numbers of richly characterized DNA samples. Eight years agoWe are a part of NHGRI's electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network, whose goal is to conduct genome-wide association studies in thousands of individuals using EMR-derived phenotypes and DNA from linked biorepositories. For eMERGE, Northwestern University (NU) is studying type 2 diabetes as a phenotype. In addition, in order to explore race differences in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, NU collaborated with Vanderbilt University to study a mix of both Caucasian and African-Americans. Northwestern University: In 2002, Northwestern committed to the development of a DNA repository to serve as a platform for the identification and validation of genotype-phenotype associations that will impact healthcare. The NUgene Project is a repository with longitudinal medical information from participating patients at affiliated hospitals and outpatient clinics from the Northwestern University Medical Center. Participants' DNA samples are coupled with data from a questionnaire (2 versions were used, 1 before and 1 after February 2006, both are included) and continuously updated data from our Electronic Medical Record (EMR) representing actual clinical care events. Northwestern has a state-of-the art, comprehensive inpatient and outpatient EMR system of over 2 million patients. NUgene has broad access to participant data for all outpatient visits as well as inpatient data via a consolidated data warehouse. NUgene participants consent to distribution and use of their coded DNA samples and data for a broad range of genetic research by third-party investigators. Vanderbilt University: BioVU, Vanderbilt's DNA databank, is an enabling resource for exploration of the relationships among genetic variation, disease susceptibility, and variable drug responses, and represents a key first step in moving the emerging sciences of genomics and pharmacogenomics from research tools to clinical practice. BioVU acquires DNA from discarded blood samples collected from routine patient care. The biobank is linked to de-identified clinical data extracted from Vanderbilt's EMR, which forms the basis for phenotype definitions used in genotype-phenotype correlations.

Northwestern NUgene Project: Type 2 Diabetes