Genetic Resource

The Genetic Resource (DNA Samples)

The active repositories of native and cell line DNA, and the cell-lines themselves are stored in freezers and cryostores in the ALSPAC laboratories, University of Bristol under the management of Dr Sue Ring. The cell lines are backed up by an inactive archive (not accessed to supply users) held at the European Collection of Cell Culture within the Health Protection Agency Centre for Emergency Preparedness at Porton Down, Wiltshire.  Access to DNA is overseen directly by the METADAC committee (see details below).

The Genetic Resource (data)

Details of the GWA and exome sequencing datasets generated from the 1958BC are available from the European Genome-phenome Archive and are summarised in table below.

Click on the sample sizes shown in the summary table to be transferred to the EGA site for that dataset.

Key to Study Controls 1-6:

EGA study reference & further information:
[1] WTCCC1:  Welcome Trust Case control Consortium 1

[2] WTCCC2:  Welcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2

[3] T1DGC:  Type 1 Diabetes Genetics Consortium

[4] GABRIEL:  Large-Scale Genome-Wide Association Study of Asthma

[5] METABOCHIP: Association Studies using the metabochip array

[6] IMMUNOCHIP:  Coeliac Disease Immunochip dataset

Application and Access (GWA data)

• Access to the GWA data sets are made by application to the Consortium Data Access Committee (CDAC) of the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. The CDAC is formally convened by Wellcome Trust, under a secretariat led by Dr Audrey Duncanson.
• CDAC only authorises access to anonymised genotypes, judgement is based solely on application review criteria 1-5. If applicants request anything beyond the anonymised genotypes from the GWA scans detailed in the table above, they are necessarily referred on to the METADAC directly. Similarly, if concerns are raised under criteria 1-5 but the CDAC does not feel that the concerns are severe enough to warrant outright rejection, the application will be discussed with the Chair of METADAC and if necessary referred on to that committee for formal review.
• Where applicants require access solely to the GWA data overseen by the European Genome-phenome Archive, the applicant signs off on the conditions implied by the acceptance documentation required by CDAC data access agreement. All of these documents indicating access to data or biosamples include a non-negotiable requirement to return new scientific data (e.g. genotypes, or new variables) to a central 1958BC scientific archive to be held at Bristol, which will increase the value of the 1958BC resource to the scientific community as a whole.

Application and Access (DNA and genetic data other than GWA)

• Access to genetic data not covered in the GWA paragraph above, and to native and cell-line DNA is by application to METADAC.
• METADAC assess the application according to published application criteria.
• For all applications for DNA, a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) must be signed.  As this can be time-consuming, you may wish to get your legal team to check the MTA in parallel with your application to METADAC.
• DNA plates are prepared by University of Bristol and shipped to researchers.
• For further information on applying to METADAC for the 1958BC genetic resource see the METADAC application documentation for 1958BC, or contact metadac@bristol.ac.uk.
• All 1958BC applications are reported to the Centre for Longitudinal Studies Strategic Advisory Board (CLS SAB)