Our 3-stage approach integrates public-access resources including continuously updated databases of GWAS results, web-based whole-genome analysis tools, and genome-wide data to identify the most promising set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for follow-up. Most importantly, the 3-stage approach addresses key limitations of the top-hits and best-guess approaches: It provides a systematic and replicable means of integrating findings across multiple GWAS and of selecting SNPs for follow-up in new samples. The 3 stages are:
