Current efforts within the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) are largely focused on defining reference human cell types using a relatively small number of samples of predominantly European origin. However, the next phase of the HCA is likely to address the topic of human diversity by comprehensively characterizing variation in cell states across age, sex, population groups, diseases and environments. To spur this next phase, and also expand the geographical scope of the HCA, we propose an HCA-Asia seed network to generate an Asian Immune Diversity Atlas (AIDA). AIDA will generate transcriptome variation datasets from 5 major Asian population groups (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Malay), define an atlas of Asian cell types and states, and characterize their variation associated with ethnicity, age and sex. We will also formalize a study design based on common controls that can in principle reduce technical artifacts in a broad range of comparative single cell studies. This study design will be complemented with novel algorithms designed to normalize datasets of interest against the common controls, to increase the robustness of biological inferences. In addition to providing new tools and resources to the HCA, this seed network will serve as a template for future comparative studies in the single cell field.The AIDA dataset consists of scRNA-seq (10x 5′ v2 scRNA-seq) and genotype (Illumina Infinium Global Screening Array v.3) data. In the AIDA splicing quantitative trait loci (sQTL) project, we identified 11,577 independent cis-sQTLs, 607 trans-sQTLs, and 107 dynamic sQTLs. The post-imputation genotype for the Japanese and Korean cohort will be available through dbGaP. The Singaporean (ethnically Chinese, Indian and Malay) genotypes require a data access application to the HELIOS Data Access Committee (helios_science@ntu.edu.sg). European samples are used as control.
This is a sample of Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial data for limited use in a pilot test for remote data access. The PLCO is a randomized, controlled trial of screening tests for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Approximately 155,000 participants were enrolled between November 1993 and July 2001. Participants were individually randomized to the control arm or intervention arm in equal proportions. Participants assigned to the control arm received usual care, whereas participants assigned to the intervention arm were invited to receive screening exams for prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers as outlined in the study protocol. The goal of the study was to assess whether these screening exams reduce mortality from prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Data were collected on cancer diagnoses and deaths from all causes that occurred through December 31, 2009. Median follow-up time was 12.4 years.
