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The ENCODE Project: ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements
Overview
In April 2003, the sequence of the human genome was completed. Although this is a significant achievement, much remains to be done. Before the best use of the information contained in the sequence can be made, the identity and precise location of all of the protein-encoding and non-protein-encoding genes will have to be determined. The identity of other functional elements encoded in the DNA sequence, such as promoters and other transcriptional regulatory sequences, along with determinants of chromosome structure and function, such as origins of replication, also remain largely unknown. A comprehensive encyclopedia of all of these features is needed to fully utilize the sequence to better understand human biology, to predict potential disease risks, and to stimulate the development of new therapies to prevent and treat these diseases.
To encourage discussion and comparison of existing computational and experimental approaches, and to stimulate the development of new ones, the NHGRI proposed to create a highly interactive public research consortium to carry out a pilot project for testing and comparing existing and new methods to identify functional sequences in DNA. Working together in a highly cooperative effort to rigorously analyze a defined portion of the human genome sequence, investigators with diverse backgrounds and expertise will be able to evaluate the relative merits of each of a diverse set of techniques, technologies and strategies in identifying all the functional elements in human genomic sequence, to identify gaps in our ability to annotate genomic sequence, and to consider the abilities of such methods to be scaled up for an effort to analyze the entire human genome.
On July 23-24, 2002, the NHGRI organized a workshop, the Comprehensive Extraction of Biological Information from Genomic Sequence, to discuss this proposal. The workshop participants resoundingly supported the concept of a pilot project and made a number of recommendations about the project's goals, organization and implementation, which have now been incorporated into NHGRI's plan. The ultimate goal of this project is to improve access to information, resources, ideas, expertise, and technology beyond the scope of any single group, and to affect the entire community of researchers interested in mining genomic sequence. The hoped-for outcome will be a clear path to determining all of the functional elements in the entire human genome sequence and integrating the information in a manner that will guide future basic and clinical research.
Encode Project Request For Application (RFA)
- RFA-HG-04-001 [grants1.nih.gov]: Technologies to Find Functional Elements in Genomic DNA.
(Expired)
- RFA HG-03-003 [grants.nih.gov]: Determination of All Functional Elements in Human DNA (Expired)
- RFA HG-03-004 [grants.nih.gov]: Technologies to Find Functional Elements in Genomic DNA (Expired)
Target Selection Process and Regions
Participation and Workshop Reports
Program Staff
Program Directors
Elise Feingold, Ph.D.
E-mail: elise_feingold@nih.gov
Peter Good, Ph.D.
E-mail: peter_good@nih.gov
Program Analysts
Kris Wetterstrand, MS
E-mail: wettersk@mail.nih.gov
Laura Liefer
E-mail: lliefer@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Human Genome Research Institute
National Institutes of Health
5635 Fishers Lane
Suite 4076, MSC 9305
Bethesda, MD 20892-9305
Phone:(301) 496-7531
Fax:(301) 480-2770
Last Updated: July 2004
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