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Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC)

Phase 1

MorPhiC aims to develop a consistent catalog of molecular and cellular phenotypes for null alleles for every human gene by using in-vitro multicellular systems.

The 2020 NHGRI Strategic Vision laid out a set of “bold predictions for human genomics by 2030” that included: “The biological function(s) of every human gene will be known; for non-coding elements in the human genome, such knowledge will be the rule, rather than the exception.” Systematically obtaining genome-wide information about gene functions is critical for elucidating the roles and relationships of genes and regulatory elements in pathways and networks, which is one of the compelling genomic research projects outlined in the NHGRI Strategic Vision.

Program Goals

Conceived as one way to address this element of the Strategic Vision, MorPhiC aims to develop a consistent catalog of molecular and cellular phenotypes for null alleles for every human gene by using in-vitro multicellular systems. The catalog will be made available for broad use by the biomedical community. The program will start with a Phase 1 to optimize available methods to create null alleles and measure their phenotypic effects in a target subset of 1,000 protein coding genes across the program. Phase 1 will also assess the scale limitations of such methods, develop common data formats and establish use cases for this catalog.

Systematically obtaining information about the molecular and cellular phenotypic effects of gene knockouts for all human genes would provide wide-ranging insights into their biological function. Such data would provide a foothold for understanding the mechanisms through which genes act to produce phenotypes and would help elucidate the roles and relationships of genes and regulatory elements in pathways and networks.

MorPhiC Phase 1 will include three components:

  • Data Production Research and Development Centers will develop diverse systems and assays and explore and compare approaches to produce MorPhiC data at scale, and to maximize its informativeness.
     
  • Data Analysis and Validation Centers will undertake applicant-proposed analyses of the data in order to characterize its quality and utility for multiple purposes.
     
  • There will be a Data Resource and Administrative Coordinating Center.
     

All components will work together to ensure that the data are informative, of high quality and useful to the community.

See the MorPhiC Concept Document and Concept Clearance.

Funding Opportunities

Active

At this time, there are no current funding opportunities. 

Expired

Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) Phase I: Data Analysis and Validation Centers (U01 Clinical trials not allowed)
RFA-HG-22-019
Expiration Date: November 2, 2022

Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) Phase 1: Data Production Research and Development Centers (UM1 clinical trials not allowed)
RFA-HG-21-029
Expiration Date: November 2, 2021

Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) Phase 1: Data Analysis and Validation Centers (U01 clinical trials not allowed)
RFA-HG-21-030 
Expiration Date: November 2, 2021

Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) Phase 1: Data Resource and Administrative Coordinating Center (U24 clinical trials not allowed)
RFA-HG-21-031
Expiration Date: November 2, 2021

Grantee Information

PI Institution Title Award Number
Data Production Research and Development Center Awards
Paul Robson Jackson Laboratory JAX MorPhiC Data Production Center HG012651
Danwei Huangfu Sloan Kettering Institute Center for scalable knockout and multimodal phenotyping in genetically diverse human genomes HG012654
Mazhar Adli Northwestern University Molecular and cellular characterization of essential human genes HG012649
Luke Gilbert University of California Spatial multiomic mapping of gene function with CRISPRoff HG012660
Data Resource and Administrative Coordinating Center Awards
Stephan Schürer University of Miami MorPhiC Data Resource and Administrative Coordinating Center HG012674

Contact

Send questions to morphicprogram@mail.nih.gov.

Websites

Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC)
morphic.bio
Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC)

Program Staff

Adam Felsenfeld, Ph.D.
Adam Felsenfeld, Ph.D.
  • Program Director
  • Division of Genome Sciences
Colin Fletcher, Ph.D.
Colin Fletcher, Ph.D.
  • Program Director, The Knockout Mouse Project (KOMP)
  • Division of Genome Sciences
Ajay Pillai, Ph.D.
Ajay Pillai, Ph.D.
  • Program Director
  • Division of Genome Sciences
Riley Wilson
Riley Wilson, B.S.
  • Scientific Program Analyst
  • Division of Genomic Medicine

Last updated: April 10, 2023