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The Epilepsy Genetics Initiative: Systematic reanalysis of diagnostic exomes increases yield
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The Epilepsy Genetics Initiative: Systematic reanalysis of diagnostic exomes increases yield

Colleen Campbell, Michael Ciliberto, Charuta Joshi, David B Goldstein, Erin L Heinzen, Michelle E Ernst, Brandon L Laughlin, Daniel H Lowenstein, Laura Lubbers, Randall Stewart, …
Epilepsia (Copenhagen), Vol.60(5), pp.797-806
05/2019
DOI: 10.1111/epi.14698
PMCID: PMC6519344
PMID: 30951195
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.14698View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Summary Objective The Epilepsy Genetics Initiative (EGI) was formed in 2014 to create a centrally managed database of clinically generated exome sequence data. EGI performs systematic research‐based reanalysis to identify new molecular diagnoses that were not possible at the time of initial sequencing and to aid in novel gene discovery. Herein we report on the efficacy of this approach 3 years after inception. Methods One hundred sixty‐six individuals with epilepsy who underwent diagnostic whole exome sequencing (WES) were enrolled, including 139 who had not received a genetic diagnosis. Sequence data were transferred to the EGI and periodically reevaluated on a research basis. Results Eight new diagnoses were made as a result of updated annotations or the discovery of novel epilepsy genes after the initial diagnostic analysis was performed. In five additional cases, we provided new evidence to support or contradict the likelihood of variant pathogenicity reported by the laboratory. One novel epilepsy gene was discovered through dual interrogation of research and clinically generated WES. Significance EGI's diagnosis rate of 5.8% represents a considerable increase in diagnostic yield and demonstrates the value of periodic reinterrogation of whole exome data. The initiative's contributions to gene discovery underscore the importance of data sharing and the value of collaborative enterprises.
seizures data sharing whole exome sequencing

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