Notice of Availability of the Data Access Request System for the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN)

Notice Number: NOT-OD-07-066

Update: The following update relating to this announcement has been issued:

Key Dates
Release date: May 25, 2007

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to inform the scientific public about the availability of the GAIN data resource and the process for applying for access to GAIN project datasets.

Background
The NIH and the Foundation for the NIH (FNIH) formed a public-private partnership to provide genome-wide genotyping to support genome-wide association studies using existing information and biospecimens. This project is known as GAIN the Genetic Association Information Network.

The GAIN Database is within dbGaP, the database of Genotype and Phenotype, which was developed and is operated by the National Library of Medicine’s National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). dbGaP provides for two levels of access: open (available to anyone with no restrictions), and controlled (requiring preauthorization). Summary information for each project in the GAIN database will be available in the open-access section of dbGaP on or around May 24, 2007.

How to Apply for Access to Individual-level Data
Individual-level genotype, phenotype, and environmental data from the GAIN database will be accessible for research purposes to qualified investigators through the controlled-access section of dbGaP. We anticipate that individual-level data for the first GAIN project dataset will be available on or about June 9, 2007.

Beginning on or around May 24, 2007, researchers may request access to the individual-level data from GAIN studies through the dbGaP data access request system. More information about the data access request process is available at: http://dbgap.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/aa/dbgap_request_process.pdf. Terms of use are documented in the GAIN Data Use Certification.

eRA Commons registration is required for access to the dbGaP data access request system. Collaborating investigators from different institutions must submit separate Data Access Requests, using their own eRA Commons registrations.

Inquiries

If you have questions about this Notice, you may contact:

Emily L. Harris, PhD, MPH
Chair, GAIN Data Access Committee
National Human Genome Research Institute
gaindac@mail.nih.gov