FGED Toronto 2012

Genomics has transformed research not only by providing us with reference genome sequences for humans and other organisms, but also by introducing new technologies that are producing data at an unprecedented rate. Microarrays were the first genomic technology to have a broad impact and from them we learned the value of standardizing (to the extent possible) the data and meta?data associated with genomic experiments and the value of sharing well?annotated experimental data. Today, with ultra high-throughput sequencing technologies, we are seeing an even greater explosion of genomic data and we, and others, see many of the same opportunities and risks that microarrays presented. At present, there are a large number of groups working in this area and there is a real and imminent danger of individual projects generating standards that are redundant and a barrier to sharing with others.

The FGED Society Board held a meeting in Boston in January 2012 to address best practices for functional genomics data sharing and integration especially in light of ultra high?throughput sequencing technologies. This was a small, invitation-only meeting to help guide the future direction of the FGED Society. The Meeting in Toronto aims to build on the sucess of this meeting in Boston. For more info on the Boston meeting outcomes please click here