Research Triangle Institute

Establishing the Phenx Toolkit as a Biomedical Knowledgebase - Project Summary/abstract the Goal of Phenx (consensus Measures for Phenotypes and Exposures) Is to Provide Investigators With Standard Measurement Protocols (e.g., Questionnaires, Bioassays, Physical Measurements) to Improve the Quality and Consistency of Data Collection and Increase the Impact of Individual Studies. Over Time, This Common Currency Will Enable Investigators to More Easily Combine Studies to Increase Statistical Power and Compare Studies to Validate Findings. Enabling Analysis of Shared Data Should Lead to a Better Understanding of the Etiology, Progression, and Treatment of Human Disease, Ultimately Leading to Improvements in Patient Care, Health Outcomes and Quality of Life. to This End, Phenx Has Established a Freely Available, Web-based Catalog (https://www.phenxtoolkit.org/) of Measurement Protocols Intended for Use in Genomic, Clinical, Translational, and Epidemiological Research With Human Participants. the Phenx Toolkit Content and Features Are Driven by the Scientific Community. the Phenx Steering Committee (SC) Provides Overarching Guidance and Each Measurement Protocol in the Phenx Toolkit Is Selected by a Working Group (WG) of Experts Using a Consensus-based Process That Relies on Input From the Scientific Community. Initially Released in 2009, the Phenx Toolkit Currently Includes 874 Protocols Addressing Human Phenotypes and Exposures. in the Next 5 Years, Phenx Will Expand the Breadth and Depth of the Toolkit, Increase Utility, and Strive to Increase Awareness of the Resource. the Specific Aims Are to (1) Review, Update, and Expand Phenx Toolkit Content; (2) Leverage Biomedical Standards to Increase Scientific Impact of Phenx Toolkit; and (3) Raise Awareness and Increase Adoption of the Phenx Toolkit. This Research Plan Will Establish the Phenx Toolkit as a Sustainable Knowledgebase That Organizes, Accumulates, and Annotates Standard Protocols and Links Them to Relevant Resources and Data. This Plan, Which Reflects a Multipronged Approach, Will Ensure That the Value and Impact of the Phenx Toolkit Will Continue to Increase Over Time.