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Setting the Standard - The Genome-wide, RNAi Global Initiative
Since the inaugural meeting held in October 2005 in Boston, the RNAi Global Initiative has expanded to embrace new members representing the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Stanford University and the Vrije University Medical Center. The group represents a unique partnership among labs from leading institutions with international reputations in bio/medical research.
The founding institutions include The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Hospital and Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital, both with The University of Toronto; Cancer Research UK (CRUK) at the London Research Institute and the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR); The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ); UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center; Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI); The Scottish Centre for Genomic Technology and Informatics based at the University of Edinburgh Medical School (GTI); the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Yale University; the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and MRC Cancer Cell Unit.
What motivates these diverse groups? This is best described by the mission statement found on the RNAi Global Initiative website which is to "combine the powerful new technology of genome-wide siRNA screening with international scientific exchange and the collaboration of leading research institutions in order to rapidly accelerate basic biological and medical discovery." To this end, the Initiative functions cooperatively through participation in a number of group and community-based activities.
The long term objectives of the RNAi Global Initiative are to develop novel and complementary technologies and to provide leadership in the development of standards for RNAi-based experiments using their collective expertise as a foundation. At the second meeting of a biannual schedule held in Washington DC (April 6-7 2006), the commitment to collaboration and scientific dialogue was evidenced by member updates about their progress with whole genome screens.
Another important activity is the formation of an RNAi Informatics Workgroup, the goal of which is to recommend reporting standards and formats for data acquisition, archiving and evaluating. The ultimate goal of the RNAi Global Initiative is to work together with the larger RNAi community for the development of a publicly available database for the functional annotation of the entire human transcriptome.
Dharmacon's Role in The Initiative
Dharmacon supports the RNAi Global Initiative by providing each group with the siARRAY® Human Genome siRNA Library. This represents preselected groups of SMARTselection™ designed siRNA reagents — individual duplexes or SMARTpool® reagents targeting all unique human genes in the NCBI RefSeq database. These silencing reagents are used in whole genome screens to assess those genes important for normal function and those that are critical to the pathogenesis of cancer and other disease states.
Visit the RNAi Global Initiative website for more information. |
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