The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI)

Overview

The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) was announced in February 2006 to support research that will lead to the understanding of genetic contributions and gene-environment interactions in common disease. GEI is planned and led by an NIH-wide Coordinating Committee, administratively led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

Implementation of GEI began with a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) component that comprises three elements:

The GWA component of GEI is administratively led by NHGRI on behalf of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Curated data will be made available through a controlled-access process in a central database established by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) for research use (dbGaP).

More information about the awards made in 2007 may be found in: Genes, Environment and Health Initiative Invests in Genetic Studies, Environmental Monitoring Technologies [nih.gov]

1. Genotyping facilities to perform high-throughput genotyping for GWA studies over four years. (RFA HG-06-014)
    
2. A Coordinating Center (CC) to provide analytic support, data quality assessment and quality control, and logistical management of the GWA program. (RFA HG-06-032)
    
3. Investigative groups to submit samples from well-characterized subjects for GWA genotyping and/or replication studies, and to analyze the resulting data. RFA HG-06-033] and RFA HG-07-012
    

One of the initial decisions of the NIH-wide Coordinating Committee was that the genetic component of GEI should not be limited only to the collection of GWA genotype data. In this way, the GEI genetics component differs from the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN). Support for data analysis, replication and fine mapping studies, sequencing, functional studies, database development and clinical translation are all included within GEI.

Meetings and Workshops

• GEI Retreat 2
  Meeting held to discuss possible next steps for GEI, which is in its last year of funding. The focus of the meeting was on possible GxE interaction "signature" projects demonstrating the importance of investigating genetics and environment together. 
  July 28, 2010
   
• GEI Workshop: Gene-Environment Interplay in Common Complex Disease: Forging an Integrative Model
  Workshop held to engage the scientific community in discussing and conceptualizing a truly trans-disciplinary model of gene-environment research that fully integrates the "genetics" and "environment" sides of the gene-environment equation. 
  January 25, 2010
   
• Genes and Environment Initiative Retreat
  Meeting to explore opportunities to integrate the Exposure Biology and Genetics components of GEI. Participants were invited to discuss possible avenues for funding beyond FY10, and the scopes and mechanisms to move into a "Phase II" of GEI. 
  September 2, 2009
   
• GEI and NCI Meeting - The Challenge of Mapping GWAS Signals: What Are the Statistical Limits of Follow-up Sequencing, Genotyping, and Haplotyping?
  Meeting held to discuss statistical issues of discovery and experimental design, informed by specific examples, to develop more efficient and effective follow-up approaches for sequencing and genotyping for the genetic dissection of GWAS signals. 
  March 24-25, 2010
   
• Trans-NIH Workshop - Genome-wide Association: Analyze This!
  Workshop held to share and discuss statistical strategies to identify environmental components or covariates of disease and their interactions with genes in genome-wide association studies. 
  August 4-5, 2008
   
• Genes, Environment and Health Initiative: Translating Whole Genome Association Data into Clinical Practice
  Workshop to explore the challenges in using GEI basic findings to have a positive impact on health. 
  March 10-11, 2008
   
• Genome-Wide Association Studies for the Rest of Us: Adding Genome-wide Association to Population Studies
  Workshop on genome-wide association in population studies. In collaboration with the Society for Epidemiologic Research. 
  June 22, 2007
   
• GWAS to Sequencing: Sequencing Think Tank and Training Workshop for the Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) 
  Workshop organized by the trans-NIH GEI Genetics subcommittee to address the questions "When and how should sequencing be used to follow up on whole-genome association studies?" 
  January 18-19, 2007
   

Funding Opportunities

Notices

• NOT-CA-08-011: Administrative Supplements for Gene Identification Efforts: Replication and Fine-Mapping Studies for The Genes, Environment, and Health Initiative
   
• NOT-MH-07-120: Notice of Change in Receipt Date for RFA-MH-08-040, Methods of Statistical Analysis of DNA Sequence Data for Studies Relating Variation to Disease
   
• NOT-HG-07-001: Genome-wide Association Studies in the Genes and Environment Initiative - Availability of Additional Information
   
• NOT-OD-07-006: Genes and Environment Initiative - Participation of NIH Intramural Investigators (NOT-OD-07-006)
   

Requests for Applications

• Funding Opportunity Contacts
   
• Methods and Approaches for Detection of Gene-Environment Interactions in Human Disease (PAR-11-032) [grants.nih.gov]
  Solicits applications from institutions/organizations to develop and test innovative statistical and bioinformatics methods and analytical strategies and study designs for identifying gene-environment interactions for complex human diseases
   
• Comparing Design Approaches for Sequencing Disease-Associated Regions found in Genome-Wide Association Studies (RFA HG-09-014) [grants.nih.gov]
  Solicits applications from investigators with well-replicated disease associations to nominate association regions for sequencing and analysis and to provide a sufficient number of samples with genotype, phenotype, and exposure datasets from completed GWA studies.
   
• Informing Systems Biology through Genetic Variation: The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (RFA MH-09-120)[grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages studies in systems biology that expand on findings from Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and other genetics/genomic approaches to identify and characterize the molecular elements of the larger dynamic networks and their perturbations underlying complex human disease.
   
• Replication and Fine-Mapping Studies for the Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (RFA CA-09-003) [grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages replication and fine-mapping studies of genetic regions that are putatively associated with common complex traits, primarily those identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS)
   
• Functional Characterization of Genetic Variants and Interactions: The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (RFA DA-09-003)[grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages functional characterization of genetic variants that have been statistically nominated to be associated with a particular outcome through common, complex disease gene discovery approaches, such as genome-wide association studies, candidate gene approaches, or sequencing studies.
   
• Functional Characterization of Genetic Variants and Interactions: The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (RFA DA-09-004)[grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages functional characterization of genetic variants that have been statistically nominated to be associated with a particular outcome through common, complex disease gene discovery approaches, such as genome-wide association studies, candidate gene approaches, or sequencing studies.
   
• Implementation Planning Grants for Educational, Behavioral, or Social Studies for Translation of Genetic Factors in Common Diseases (RFA DK-08-003) [grants.nih.gov]
  Aims to support studies that propose to plan for multicenter research on a) educational and communication initiatives for health care providers and consumers regarding interpretation of findings from genetic studies of common diseases and the results of their dissemination and b) behavioral or psychosocial aspects of clinical application of genetic findings.
   
• Translation of Common Disease Genetics into Clinical Applications (RFA DK-08-004) [grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages studies that propose a) clinical studies using information from genome wide association or other genetic studies in common diseases; b) development and assessment of diagnostic, clinical trial, epidemiologic and risk analytic tools for use in clinical research or practice; and c) cost-effectiveness studies of clinical applications of genetic information.
   
• Methods of Statistical Analysis of DNA Sequence Data for Studies Relating to Variation in Disease (RFA MH-08-040) [grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages the development of novel methods of statistical analysis of DNA sequence data in studies that aim to relate genetic variation to disease.
   
• Genome-wide Association Studies in the Genes, Environment, and Health Initiative - Study Investigators (RFA-HG-07-012)[grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages investigative groups to conduct genome-wide association (GWA) genotyping and/or replication studies, using data and specimens from human subjects on whom information is available for conditions/traits of public health importance and relevant environmental exposures.
   
• Methods of Analysis of Gene-Environment Interactions in Complex Diseases: The Genes and Environment Initiative (RFA HL-07-010)[grants.nih.gov]
  Aims to develop and test innovative, informative, and cost-effective methods and analytical strategies for identifying gene-environment interactions in genome-wide association studies, sequencing studies, linkage analyses, or candidate gene approaches with broad applicability in complex diseases
   
• Genome-wide Association Studies in the Genes and Environment Initiative - Genotyping Facilities (RFA-HG-06-014) [grants.nih.gov]
  Provides support for large-scale, high-throughput genotyping capabilities to genotype samples from human subjects on whom information is available for conditions/traits of public health importance and relevant environmental exposures for genome-wide association (GWA) genotyping and replication studies, as part of the NIH-wide Genes and Environment Initiative (GEI).
   
• Genome-wide Association Studies in the Genes and Environment Initiative - Coordinating Center (RFA-HG-06-032) [grants.nih.gov]
  Provides support for a Coordinating Center (CC) to serve as a centralized resource to facilitate and support genome-wide association studies and other research activities of the four-year NIH-wide Genes and Environment Initiative (GEI).
   
• Genome-wide Association Studies in the Genes and Environment Initiative - Study Investigators (RFA-HG-06-033) [grants.nih.gov]
  Encourages investigative groups to conduct genome-wide association (GWA) genotyping and/or replication studies using data and samples from human subjects on whom information is available for conditions/traits of public health importance and relevant environmental exposures.
   

News

• Genes, Environment and Health Initiative Invests In Genetic Studies, Environmental Monitoring Technologies
  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) selects the first projects to be funded as part of the Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI), a unique collaboration between geneticists and environmental scientists. Sept. 4, 2007

Genetics Resources

The Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) is an NIH-wide initiative that aims to accelerate understanding of genetic and environmental contributions to health and disease. There are two components to GEI: genetics and exposure biology. The genetics component includes a genome-wide association program called GENEVA (Gene Environment Association Studies).

• RFA-HG-07-012 [grants.nih.gov]: Genome-wide Association Studies in the Genes, Environment, and Health Initiative - Study Investigators (U01) (Expired)
  • Publications
     
• RFA-HL-07-010 [grants.nih.gov]: Methods of Analysis of Gene-Environment Interactions in Complex Diseases: The Genes and Environment Initiative (R01) (Expired)
  • Abstracts and Publications
  • Statistical Software Packages
     

Coordinating Committee Co-Chairs

• Eric D. Green, M.D., Ph.D.
  Director, National Human Genome Research Institute
   
• Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S.
  Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and National Toxicology Program (NTP)

Genetic Subcommittee Working Groups

Genome-Wide Association Genotyping

Teri Manolio, NHGRI (Chair)
Zhaoxia Ren, NIAAA (Co-chair)

Data Analysis

Thomas Lehner, NIMH (Chair)
Lisa Brooks, NHGRI (Co-chair)

Replication & Fine Mapping

Elizabeth Gillanders, NCI  (Chair)
Hemin Chin, NEI (Co-chair)

Sequencing

Adam Felsenfeld, NHGRI (Chair)

Functional Studies

Joni Rutter, NIDA (Chair)
Danilo Tagle, NINDS (Co-chair)

Translational Research

Paul Kimmel, NIDDK [www2.niddk.nih.gov] (Chair)
Rebekah Rasooly, NIDDK (Co-chair)

Database

Steve Sherry, NLM/NCBI (Chair)
Jim Ostell, NLM/NCBI (Co-chair)