Population Descriptors for Legacy Genomic Data: Challenges and Future Directions

Several National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Offices, and Centers* are partnering to host a two-day virtual workshop on May 28-29, 2024, to further explore the recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) 2023 report, Using Population Descriptors in Genetics and Genomics Research: A New Framework for an Evolving Field, with regards to legacy genomic data. 

This workshop will bring together leaders of genomic data science resources, researchers who use legacy data, and other partners to make recommendations regarding the application of population descriptors to existing data. A meeting report will be written and disseminated publicly. 

The workshop objectives are to:

• • Understand NASEM report recommendations, and consider how they relate to the ongoing use of legacy data; 
• • Summarize current approaches to the use of population descriptors in/for legacy data;   
• • Define challenges with current approaches to harmonization, interoperability and analysis, including genetic similarity;  
• • Address challenges and identify potential solutions;  
• • Develop practical recommendations that can be widely adopted; and 
• • Identify opportunities for future research or collaboration.

For more information, please contact: Lucia Hindorff ([email protected]) or Joannella Morales ([email protected]).