Genome sequencing has enormous potential for personalized medicine, mitigating the next pandemic, and more. But it can’t live up to that potential if researchers don’t have a standardized way to communicate and share genome data analysis methods.
Today, there are dozens of platforms, scripts, and tools for analyzing genome data, used by tens of thousands of researchers worldwide—an abundance that reflects the burgeoning nature of the genomics field. But it also creates barriers to exchanging all of the key information that other researchers, as well as regulators such as the FDA, need to understand the results and replicate the tests.This lack of “information interoperability” undermines their ability to quickly and effectively respond to emerging pandemics such as COVID-19. Even during normal times, it creates unnecessary delays and expenses every step of the way, from drug discovery to treatment delivery.
Read More