Human Genome Project
U.S. Department of Energy

Revised U.S. Policy for Support of Single Chromosome Workshops

March 1995

Both U.S. agencies involved in the Human Genome Project, the National Center for Human Genome Research (NCHGR) and the Department of Energy (DOE), participate in the support of the international single chromosome workshop (SCW) program. The primary purpose of the workshops has been the assembly of state-of-the-art consensus maps of individual chromosomes.

The SCW program was established for a specific purpose, namely to address the need for investigators to come together to work toward meeting the mapping goals of the HGP. Progress toward these goals has been rapid. The initial goal of a 2-5 cM human genetic linkage map has been reached and rapid progress is being made on the physical maps of human chromosomes through both individual chromosome and genome-wide efforts. In light of this progress, the NCHGR and DOE have considered whether there is a continued need for SCWs and have made the following changes to their policy for the support of the workshops:

Long-Term:

  1. Support for the SCW program, as a coordinated entity, will be terminated by the end of FY 1996.
  2. Applications for individual meetings that address the evolving needs of the genome community are encouraged. Specifically, support for additional chromosome-specific meetings will still be considered under appropriate circumstances.

Short-Term:

  1. The NIH and DOE will jointly expend a maximum of $20,000 per workshop (this ceiling may be waived if a strong justification is presented).
  2. Restriction of travel funds pending the submission of the workshop report will be increased to 50% and all participants should be notified of this policy prior to the meeting.
  3. Terms and conditions will be added to awards stating that organizers will have to require that, as a condition of reimbursement, GDB data submission forms be submitted at the same time as abstracts.

For further information, please contact:

Elise A. Feingold, Ph.D.
Program Director
Mapping Technology Branch
National Center for Human Genome Research
301/496-7531
301/480-2770 fax
[email protected]

or

Daniel Drell, Ph.D.
Biologist, Human Genome Program
Office of Health and Environmental Research
U.S. Department of Energy
301/903-4742
301/903-8521 fax
[email protected]