DNAnexus Platform Streamlines Access and Analysis for Large-Scale Proteomics Data

Company to host webinar featuring tips for managing large-scale proteomics data  on UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform 

DNAnexus Inc., the leading provider of cloud-based genomic and biomedical data access and companion analysis software, today announced its core platform and Cohort Browser are now optimized for accessing and analyzing large-scale proteomics data. The optimizations were based on requirements for the UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project, which is one of the largest scientific studies to measure circulating proteins for a better understanding of the link between genetics and human disease. 

The cloud-based DNAnexus platform allows researchers to store, access, and explore large sets of proteomic, genomic, phenotypic, multi-omics, imaging, and other structured data. Scientists can now use the intuitive DNAnexus Cohort Browser to interactively visualize protein expression and query potentially thousands of protein quantitative trait loci with thousands of phenotype fields and millions of genetic variants in a matter of seconds. These saved cohorts can then be shared with other scientists and used as inputs for additional downstream analysis applications. 

“DNAnexus is proud to enable the research community to take advantage of the valuable assets that sit within large-scale datasets such as UK Biobank,” said Richard Daly, CEO at DNAnexus. “Our platform’s ability to integrate large-scale proteomic data along with other genomic, metabolomic, imaging, and transcriptomic data provides a comprehensive picture of human health and drives a new wave of biomedical innovations that is having a profound impact on patient lives.” 

The UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project was launched by a consortium of 13 pharmaceutical companies in late 2020 with the aim of measuring circulating concentrations of plasma proteins in approximately 55,000 UK Biobank participants. Consortium partners are using the UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform, which is powered by DNAnexus, to access the large volumes of proteomics, whole-exome, and whole-genome sequencing data that are stored securely to the highest industry and professional standards. Technology from Olink was used to measure and quantify protein concentrations. The first tranche of Olink proteomics data of almost 1,500 plasma proteins from this project is available now for the UK Biobank research community. 

“Large-scale proteomic studies require massive technical innovation and collaboration,” said Professor Naomi Allen, Chief Scientist, UK Biobank. “Such large-scale proteomic data have the potential to reveal new insights that will enable a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of disease.”

“The landmark UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project is a meaningful step in our ongoing commitment to support researchers in understanding real-time human biology,” said Cindy Lawley, PhD, Senior Director of Population Health at Olink Proteomics. “The results from this project will help partners identify novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets along with biological mechanisms behind these insights.”

Large-scale Proteomic Data Management Tips

DNAnexus is hosting a series of webinars to help researchers manage large-scale proteomics data. The first webinar offered a tutorial on how to perform integrative analysis of these data. The next follow-up webinar will provide additional tips and use cases.

About DNAnexus

DNAnexus is a leading provider of secure, scalable, and intuitive biomedical data analysis software and bioinformatics applications for the life sciences and healthcare communities. The company actively manages and supports more than 80 petabytes of complex genomic, multi-omic, and clinical datasets on behalf of a growing network of collaborations with large-scale biobanks, as well as leading pharmaceutical, clinical diagnostic, academic research, and government organizations. Scientists across 48 countries are now using the highly collaborative, cloud-based, end-to-end platform to gain data-driven insights that can advance scientific discovery, accelerate precision medicine, and improve patient care. For more information on DNAnexus, please visit www.dnanexus.comor follow the company @DNAnexus.