WashU Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues (SMaHT) Program Organizational Center - PROJECT SUMMARY The Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues (SMaHT) Network aims to propel discovery of new biological processes in human health and disease that are mediated by genomic variation in somatic tissues. Efficient and effective logistical and scientific coordination is vital to maximizing value of SMaHT Network data. We propose to establish the WashU SMaHT Program Organizational Center (SMaHT-OC). Our proposal combines three key strengths: 1) broad and deep expertise in genomics, bioinformatics and genome variation; 2) strong collaborative ties among the WashU management team; and 3) longstanding experience as leaders of consortia building genomic resources, including Roadmap, ENCODE, 4DN, TaRGET, CCDG, Human Pangenome Project, and IGVF. The WashU SMaHT-OC will serve as the nucleus for facilitating all activities of the SMaHT Network. We will define rules and mechanisms of communication, and will empower researchers to engage with multimodal big bio-data . We will develop and organize management, networking, reporting methods, and regular meetings for establishing efficient and synergistic Network operations. We will provide administrative support to ensure that SMaHT Network-related resources, data and other products are available to the community. We will coordinate all Network meetings and working groups, including the Kick-Off meeting and annual meetings. We will build and manage both internal and external SMaHT Network websites, which will be designed to evolve with community needs. We will integrate and infuse the SMaHT Network with information and data from other large-scale resources and projects by navigating data sharing requirements and coordinating collaborations with other consortia. We will extend the successful IT infrastructure of the WashU Epigenome Browser to coordinate data visualization efforts to enable the scientific research community to take full advantage of the SMaHT Network. We will provide administrative and budget support for developing and managing engagement and training, including coordinating opportunities for researchers within and outside the Network. The WashU SMaHT-OC will integrate the efforts of all the funded initiatives of the diverse SMaHT Network, and, through innovative methodology, establish a research environment that promotes collaboration, coordination, and communication among Network participants and the scientific community. .
