Objective
The present cDNA consortia supported by the EC has successfully developed a number of libraries and improved the technology for generating cDNA fragments. The substantial data generated by the consortia has been placed in publically accessable data bases and wide use is now being made of this information for gene identification Purposes and the physical mapping programmes. With EC support we have recently instituted a series of small grants to test a number of novel methods for adding both physical and biological value to the cDNA fragments generated under the programme. High density grids of large numbers of cDNA fragments are now being made available to the physical mapping community in Europe & some worldwide centres. In addition to generating additional cDNA fragments greater emphasis will now be placed on improving the technology, making high density gridded libraries available to a wider mapping community and adding biological value to the cDNA fragments. Data generated from the libraries is fed back to a database that can be accessed by anyone wishing to use the data so that it can be analysed and comparison made between the various libraries. The precise nature of the proposed studies on the biological value of the fragments will need to be determined when the results of the first round of small grant projects is completed later this year. Those grants showing the greatest potential will be extended & possible new concepts initiated. The success of the present EC sponsored cDNA consortia has undoubtedly led to a greater collaboration within the physical mapping community. The precise pay offs are difficult to quantify but the distribution of knowledge and understanding generated within the consortia has now made us an international force. We plan to distribute various tasks within the future consortia with professor Charles Auffray acting as a "spokesman" for the consortia both in internal links with small grant holders and as the interface in wider international links. We plan to meet as a consortia at least twice a year - one meeting just with consortia members to plan the evolving strategy and another meeting with the wider community involved in cDNA studies.
The UK represented by Dr Keith Gibson will continue to act as project coordinator responsible for the internal management and administration of the proposals.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
CB2 4AT CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom