Criteria for Participation in the GTEx Consortium Analysis Working
Group (AWG)
Version May 8, 2015
Background
The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Consortium includes investigators funded to collect and
process tissues and associated clinical information from GTEx donors; perform molecular analyses on the
samples; and statistically analyze and interpret the resulting data. Donor recruitment and sample
collection are nearing completion, and no further contributions to the collection effort are envisioned.
Molecular analyses of tissues are currently funded through awards for genotyping, gene expression, and
additional molecular assays. Investigators may participate in further molecular analyses by requesting
access to stored samples (see http://www.gtexportal.org/home/samplesPage).
Primary GTEx data is available through dbGaP and is deposited rapidly after it is generated. The GTEx
Consortium performs quality control and data cleaning to arrive at analysis datasets that involve filtering
subjects, tissues, SNPs, etc. These files and all the primary data are released to dbGaP within 6 months
and once released, there are no restrictions on use or publication.
The core deliverables of the GTEx project are a comprehensive gene expression atlas and sets of
expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) across a wide range of human tissues. The GTEx Analysis
Working Group (AWG) collaboratively performs the analyses necessary to create these deliverables.
Although many other and more sophisticated analyses are performed, the expression atlas and catalogs
of eQTLs serve as primary resources for use by the wider scientific community through the GTEx portal
(www.gtexportal.org) and other sites.
Participation in the GTEx Analysis Working Group
This document pertains to participation in the GTEx AWG. The AWG is open to academic, government
and private sector scientists who meet the criteria outlined below.
Criteria for participation in the GTEx Consortium AWG are:
1. Each participant will inform the NIH staff and GTEx Consortium members about his/her group's
molecular and data analysis plans.
2. Participation by members not directly funded by GTEx is expected in at least one of the analysis
subgroups, and participants will be expected to actively participate in the collaborative analyses
of that subgroup(s) of GTEx.
3. Each participant will agree to share data according to the GTEx Data Release and Publication
Policy for pre-publication release of any analysis results.
4. Any data used for AWG analyses — either generated by production activities as part of the
Consortium, generated by the investigator, or supplied from other activities — must be available
in public databases according to the GTEx Data Release and Publication Policy.
5. Each participant will be expected to take part in group activities, including presenting their own
analysis to the AWG, participating in regular teleconferences and attending periodic GTEx
scientific meetings and analysis jamborees to discuss the AWG's progress, and coordinate the
joint publication of research results.
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6. Each participant will agree to work with other members of the AWG and the GTEx Consortium in
a cooperative manner to further the goals of the GTEx Project.
7. Each participant will make available all algorithms, software source code and experimental
methods to the other members of the Consortium for purposes of scientific evaluation, and is
strongly encouraged to disseminate this information to the broad scientific community.
8. Each participant agrees that s/he will not share or disclose confidential information obtained from
other members of the Consortium nor use any information in order to publish ahead of the
Consortium or file patents that would restrict Consortium publications or otherwise gain an unfair
advantage. Data and knowledge gained by participating in the GTEx consortium cannot be
shared beyond the people named in this application.
9. Additional criteria may be added upon recommendations of the NIH staff and the GTEx External
Scientific Panel (ESP).
Each participant who fulfills these criteria will be recognized as a member of the Consortium. When
appropriate, participants may be authors on manuscripts resulting from the work, either individually or as
part of the Consortium. Any additional interactions with individual groups, along with subsequent
publications, should be treated as a normal scientific collaboration.
Members of the Analysis Working Group may apply for access to the “Exchange” area of dbGaP. The
Exchange area is used to temporarily house intermediate data and results used by the AWG. Consortium
members requiring access to the Exchange should first contact the NIH Program Staff at
nhgrigtex@mail.nih.gov to describe their anticipated use, and then apply through dbGaP.
How to request membership
An investigator who is interested in membership in the GTEx AWG should contact NIH Program Staff at
nhgrigtex@mail.nih.gov. The application should provide the following:
1. A description (of approximately one page) of analysis plans, including a discussion of the
contribution that will be provided by these analyses.
2. A statement of agreement to abide by the Criteria for Participation listed above.
3. Names of the people requesting participation in the GTEx AWG, who will have access to data
and shared analysis results as part of the AWG.
Items that will be used to evaluate acceptance into the Consortium/AWG are:
1. The analysis expertise, methods and a rationale for the proposed work.
2. How the proposed analysis methods provide a significant contribution to the core deliverables
and analysis subgroup interests of GTEx.
3. Agreement to abide by the GTEx Data Release and Publication Policy.
4. Agreement to fully participate in GTEx AWG activities and meetings and abide by the criteria
outlined above.
5. Evidence of funding to conduct the proposed research and attend GTEx scientific meetings.
The application will be reviewed by staff within the GTEx NIH Working Group, in consultation with the
Analysis WG co-chairs and with the ESP, if required. Decisions might take up to one month. Participation
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of members not directly funded by GTEx will be reviewed yearly by NIH staff and an application for
continuation of participation will be required. Membership may be terminated at any time.
Any disagreements between participants involved in the Consortium on topics related to integrated
analysis of GTEx data, such as authorship on publications or appropriate behavior on the AWG, should
be brought to the attention of NIH staff. First, NIH will consult with the affected participants and attempt to
mediate these disagreements. If necessary, members of the GTEx ESP will be contacted for assistance
in mediation. Disagreements that cannot be resolved by mediation will be brought to arbitration. An
Arbitration Panel composed of three members will be convened: one designee each from the two affected
parties and a third designee with expertise in the relevant area who is chosen by the other two. Decisions
by the Arbitration Panel are final.
Requester INFORMATION and AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE*
Requester Organization Name:
Requester Organization Principal Scientist Name and Title:
Requester Organization Additional Scientists Names and Titles (list all who will have access to data and
contribute to AWG consortia analyses):
Requester Authorized Signatory Name and Title:
Requester Authorized Signatory address:
_________________________________________________
Printed name and signature of Authorized Official
________________________
Date
*This part can be completed with the required information and the document be emailed to
nhgrigtex@mail.nih.gov by the signing official in lieu of her/his signature.
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