The International Hemoglobinopathy Research Network

T

he International Hemoglobinopathy Research Network (INHERENT) is an international network that focuses on the study of genetic modifiers for hemoglobinopathies through a large-scale multi-ethnic genome-wide association study (GWAS). To achieve its primary objective, INHERENT brings together existing international and regional consortia in the field of hemoglobinopathies, aiming at standardising phenotypic definitions and developing an open research infrastructure that will foster international collaboration for the benefit of patients and their families.

The target sample size for the envisioned GWAS was set to 30000 hemoglobinopathy patients, which will be the largest study in the field by over one order of magnitude. This will provide the opportunity to validate previously reported associations and discover new genetic modifiers for hemoglobinopathies

Participation in INHERENT is open to any group/study that can submit a minimum of 30 DNA sample for the GWAS with their core phenotypic descriptions.

INHERENT brings together nine existing international or regional networks, namely ITHANET, RADeep, ARISE, SPARCO, SADaCC, REDAC, the HVP Global Globin Network, the International Health Repository, and the ClinGen Hemoglobinopathy VCEP.

INHERENT is also endorsed by the European Reference Network on rare hematological diseases, ERN-EuroBloodNet.

For more information, visit the INHERENT website.