Peter Robinson, M.D., MSc., professor of computational biology at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, was sworn in to the National Human Genome Research Institute’s (NHGRI) Advisory Council on Aug 19, 2022.
The NHGRI Advisory Council (NACHGR) advises the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NHGRI on genetics, genomic research, as well as training programs. NACHCR also performs second-level peer review for grant applications, determines program priorities for NHGRI and identifies goals for the government’s efforts in expanding the role and use of genomics in human health and disease.
“I am honored to be part of the NHGRI council and eager for the meaningful work ahead with my peers in this group,” said Robinson. “This is an incredibly exciting time in the field of genomics, with many promising technologies on the horizon that could be integral in providing crucial answers in disease research.”
Robinson’s research focuses on developing algorithms and software that can analyze exome and genome sequences to identify a number of novel disease genes. His group also developed the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO), now an international standard used by the Sanger Institute and several NIH-funded groups, including the Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Genome Canada, the rare diseases section of the UK’s 100,000 Genomes Project and others. He recently led efforts of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) to develop the Phenopacket Schema, a standard for computational representation of clinical data for translational genomics that was approved by the International Standards Organization (ISO) a month ago.
“We are incredibly proud of Peter’s prestigious appointment to the NHGRI Advisory Council which recognizes his transformative work in the field of computational biology, most notably the critical role that he has played standardizing data between genetics and electronic health records,” said Charles Lee, Ph.D., FACMG, professor and director at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and Robert Alvine Family Endowed Chair.
NHGRI collaborates with the scientific and medical communities to enhance genomic technologies that accelerate breakthroughs and improve lives. Their mission is to accelerate scientific and medical breakthroughs that improve human health. They do this by driving cutting-edge research, developing new technologies and studying the impact of genomics on society.
“We are excited to welcome Peter Robinson to the NHGRI Advisory Council,” said Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D., director of NHGRI. “His expertise in computational biology will bring a fresh and forward-looking perspective to the important work that the Council does in advising the institute.”
JAX researcher Peter Robinson at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, CT. Photo credit: Charles Camarda
About The Jackson Laboratory: The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California) and Japan, as well as a joint venture in China. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health. For more information, please visit www.jax.org.
About the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI): At NHGRI, we are focused on advances in genomics research. Building on our leadership role in the initial sequencing of the human genome, we collaborate with the world's scientific and medical communities to enhance genomic technologies that accelerate breakthroughs and improve lives. By empowering and expanding the field of genomics, we can benefit all of humankind. For more information about NHGRI and its programs, visit www.genome.gov.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.