Visual integration of results from a large DNA biobank (BioVU) using synthesis-view

In this paper, we describe using Synthesis-View, a new method of presenting complex genetic data, to revisit results of a study from the BioVU Vanderbilt DNA databank. BioVU is a biorepository of DNA samples coupled with de-identified electronic medical records (EMR). In the Ritchie et al. study ~10,000 BioVU samples were genotyped for 21 SNPs that were previously associated with 5 diseases: atrial fibrillation, Crohn Disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes. In the proof-of-concept study, the 21 tests of association replicated previous findings where sample size provided adequate power. The majority of the BioVU results were originally presented in tabular form. Herein we have revisited the results of this study using Synthesis-View. The Synthesis-View software tool visually synthesizes the results of complex, multi-layered studies that aim to characterize associations between small numbers of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and diseases and/or phenotypes, such as the results of replication and meta-analysis studies. Using Synthesis-View with the data of the Ritchie et al. study and presenting these data in this integrated visual format demonstrates new ways to investigate and interpret these kinds of data. Synthesis-View is freely available for non-commercial research institutions, for full details see https://chgr.mc.vanderbilt.edu/synthesisview.