The first association study generally considered to be truly genome-wide was published in March 2005 (23), and by August 2008 > 170 such publications had identified > 150 genetic loci associated with > 60 complex diseases and traits (9, 24). Although many such efforts have been and will continue to be undertaken individually, or as part of single large-scale studies such as the deCODE database (25) or the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Study (26), the value of collaborative efforts across studies and even across diseases is increasingly being recognized.
