Web-based genomics computational resource facilitates research

Researchers from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati (UC) Academic Health Center at the Computational Medicine Center have established a gene information resource designed to aid biomedical researchers in more effectively identifying small alterations in the human genome that are associated with individuals' susceptibility to disease.

PolyDoms integrates the results of multiple genetic computational analyses and protein functional modelling.

It provides biomedical scientists with important information on the theoretical probability of changes in genomic sequence (non-synonymous coding Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) being disease relevant and an indication of whether they warrant further clinical investigation.

"Having this computational tool available to researchers will help prioritise which genetic variations are most likely to alter the structure and function of a protein, and provides us with critical information related to disease susceptibility, progression and targets for therapeutic interventions," said David A Schwartz, MD, director of the NIEHS.

PolyDoms offers researchers a single, highly versatile, web-based tool that integrates diverse biomedical research information concerning genetic influences of disease with computational predictions of the impact of genomic changes on protein structures and functions.

"PolyDoms is part of a new wave of informatic resources that we and others in the computational biology community are developing to expedite and advance research in personalised, predictive and preventive medicine," said Bruce Aronow, PhD, co-director of the Computational Medicine Center and Professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

"At every stage our goals are to improve understanding, to decrease risk of disease and to improve the care and health for each individual."