The Genomic Medicine Alliance proudly announces the formation of the DRIFT Consortium with Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC). The DRIFT (Discovery Research Investigating Founder Population Traits) Consortium is an open call for research collaboration to understand the genetic architecture of founder populations throughout the world to impact health and disease.

With this agreement, academic institutions and research centers from developing countries and resource-limited environments will be given a unique opportunity to engage into advanced genomics research to elucidate the underlying genetic etiology of rare diseases in their population FREE-OF-CHARGE.

DRIFT is planning two tiers of collaboration models (see details below). For both models, we intend to broadly share data and results with the research community. If exciting new results are generated from a Tier 1 or Tier 2 collaboration, there will be potential for the design and funding of follow-up “genotype-first call-back” studies for additional collaborative research to delve more deeply into biological mechanisms and pathways. Participating academic institutions and research centers from developing countries will provide the RGC de-identified DNA samples with (Tier-2) or without (Tier-1) phenotypic information. RGC will provide these centers whole exome sequencing and genome-wide association (with phenotype, where applicable) data free-of-charge. Data analyses of the combined genotype-phenotype data (where applicable) will be performed collaboratively and each party will be free to: (i) use these datasets for its internal research; (ii) publish results; (iii) use published results for any and all purposes.

For further inquiries and information for participation, please contact:

Dr. Alan R. ShuldinerThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Vice President & Co-Head, RGC (alan[dot]shuldiner[at]regeneron[dot]com)

Prof. George P. PatrinosThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.University of Patras & Member; Scientific Advisory Committee, Genomic Medicine Alliance (gpatrinos[at]upatras[dot]gr)

Click here to read the full announcement published in Public Health Genomics, the Official journal of the Genomic Medicine Alliance