Explore Genomic Resources from the National Human Genome Research Institute

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is one of 27 centers and institutes comprising the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Initially established in 1989 as the National Center for Human Genome Research, the NHGRI is evolving into a multidivisional organization that includes Genome Sciences, Genomic Medicine, and Genomics and Society, among others.

In February 2011, NHGRI sponsored a symposium, “A Decade with the Human Genome Sequence,” and published a strategic plan, “Charting a Course for Genomic Medicine from Base Pairs to Bedside.” This was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first analysis of the draft human genome as well as articulate a new vision for the future of genomics research and describe the path towards an era of genomic medicine.

The NHGRI Web site is a rich source of genomics-related information. Of particular interest are the videos-on-demand. Current Topics in Genome Analysis is a lecture series covering contemporary areas in genomics and bioinformatics. This year’s series was held from January–April. Available resources include a syllabus, handouts, and videos of all the lectures, which were recorded live at the NIH and presented by leading genomics scientists. Among the topics covered are genome browsers, genomics of microbes and microbiomes, pharmacogenomics, and large-scale expression analysis.

The videos for these lectures are located on GenomeTV, which is the YouTube channel for the NHGRI. It currently features 27 playlists and 352 videos, including not only the aforementioned lecture series, but also “Genomics in Medicine Lectures,” “Next-Gen 101,” “1000 Genomes Tutorial,” “Genetics for Epidemiologists,” and many videos from small genomics conferences, workshops, and meetings.

It is easy to stay up-to-date on new NHGRI content by subscribing to the GenomeTV YouTube channel, twitter feed, or Facebook page.

For additional information and training on a variety of genomics resources, e-mail Ansuman Chattopadhyay at ansuman@pitt.edu or Carrie Iwema at iwema@pitt.edu of the HSLS Molecular Biology Information Service.

Parts of this article were reprinted from NHGRI.

~ Carrie Iwema