A large-scale GTEx resource will be a powerful tool to unravel the complex patterns of genetic variation and gene regulation across diverse human tissue types. The GTEx project will aid in the interpretation of GWAS findings for translational research by providing data and resources on eQTLs in a wide range of tissues of relevance to many diseases. But the value of a large GTEx resource, especially one that includes other molecular phenotypes, goes well beyond GWAS follow-up, by providing a deeper understanding of the functional elements of the genome and their underlying biological mechanisms.
