In order to ensure that data access requests are met with consistent review criteria, GA4GH formed a working group to review and streamline Data Access Committee Review Standards (DACReS) around the world. Intended to unify processes across DACs and data access requests, the group has now published its first product: the GA4GH Data Access Committee Guiding Principles and Procedural Standards.
In episode 17 of the OmicsXchange podcast, we speak with Larry Babb and Alex Wagner on the Variation Representation Specification (VRS) — an open-source, community-driven spec that lays out a computational framework for representing biomolecular variation.
A review of a new white paper cited GA4GH on the coming exponential growth in sequenced genomes, driven by advancements in areas like rare disease and cancer.
"Rehm also mentioned the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH), an international standards organisation that focuses mostly on research but has been addressing issues around returning significant findings to patients and consent policy via its regulatory and ethics working group."
The Federated Analysis Systems Project (FASP) group is hosting a two-week-long virtual event in July that focuses on API improvements of existing GA4GH specifications, and implementing those specifications in new environments. Sign up and see potential topics here. To learn mor about the hackathon, attend a meeting on 20 June at 13:00 UTC. Email neerjah.skantharajah@ga4gh.org for an invitation.
Are you attending ISMB 2022? GA4GH is sponsoring TWO sessions: the GA4GH VRS Hackathon will discuss reducing barriers to the adoption of VRS as an emergent standard, and the GA4GH Starter Kit workshop aims to introduce federated genomics using the Starter Kit and real-world data platforms.
GA4GH 10th Plenary will take place 22 to 23 September 2022 at CosmoCaixa in Barcelona, Spain, and will be live-streamed. Registration details to follow soon. View the event website here.
