MSSNG (pronounced “missing”) is a groundbreaking collaboration between Autism Speaks, Verily, DNAstack, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), and the research community to create the world’s largest whole genome sequencing database on autism with deep phenotyping.

About

MSSNG’s goal is to provide the best resources to enable the identification of many subtypes of autism, which may lead to better diagnostics, as well as personalized and more accurate treatments.

Through an online application process (Genetics System Application), MSSNG provides whole genome sequencing of blood DNA (minimum 30x high-quality coverage) of 13,801 individuals from families (Trios and Multiplex – See Overview PDF) from the Autism Genetic Research Exchange (AGRE) repository, or from other well-phenotyped cohorts entering into this study.

The MSSNG database, built using the Google Cloud Platform and Google Genomics, intends to make its data as useful and widely accessible to researchers as possible, including access to local compute and storage resources, and providing genomic exploration tools for standard and custom analyses.

Whole genome sequences and their annotations and phenotype data are being continually added and/or modified with different levels and portals of access to researchers. MSSNG’s philosophy is to promote and enable open science research with responsible sharing to lead to a better understanding of autism. We welcome you to join us.

Key Leaders

  • Stephen Scherer, SickKids Hospital and University of Toronto
  • David Glazer, Verily
  • Marc Fiume, DNAstack
  • Dean Hartley, Autism Speaks