The Plant Genome Research Program

BIO AC MeetingNovember 17, 2005

Machi F. DilworthDD/DBI

• What are the research questions being supported for the activity and where did they come from?

• What makes the program transformative?

• What does the program teach us about growing a budget for a major research activity?

NSF Plant Genome Research Programand the National Plant Genome Initiative

NSF’s Plant Genome Research Program is Part of the National Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI)

• NPGI is coordinated by and managed by the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Plant Genomes, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)

• IWG was established at the request of Sen. Bond in May 1997 to develop a plan for a national plant genome initiative • IWG issued a preliminary plan in June 1997, the first five year plan for the NPGI in January 1998, and the second five year plan in January 2003

• To understand the structure, organization and function of plant genomes of economic importance, and plant processes of added economic value

• To accelerate knowledge transfer to agriculture, forestry, energy, environment, health, and all other

current and future plant-based industries

NPGI’s Long-term Goals

National Plant Genome Initiative Guiding Principles

A long-term project

Future planning based on scientific developments

Open and timely access to the research products

Interagency activity coordinated through NSTC

Support provided on a competitive basis with peer review

Partnership with private sector and other nations

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100

200

300

400

500

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1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

BIO

BIO-PGR

Plant Genome

Fiscal Year

Budget

FY 1998 $40M

FY 1999 $50M

FY 2000 $60M

FY 2001 $65M

FY 2002 $75M

FY 2003 $84.45M

FY 2004 $89.47M

FY 2005 $94.24M

Based on the June 1997 preliminary plan for the National Plant Genome Initiative, Congress appropriated $40M to NSF for plant

genome research in the FY1998 budget

NSF’s Plant Genome Research Program Budget

NSF’s Plant Genome Research Program: Management Practices

BIO viewed this gift from Congress as a rare opportunity to make a major difference in the field of plant biology

• Entire budget remains in the program: Large budgets allow BIO to support large/complex projects to make scientific advances, to build infrastructure (research resources and human resources) that enables everyone to participate in plant genomics research, and to take risks

• Funds used to support activities to benefit all BIO programs (e.g., Venture Funds, IGERT, databases, stock centers)

• Sharing outcomes is a condition of every award

• Hands-on award management

• Communicating progress to the appropriators

Status of Plant Genomics Science1997 vs. 2005

October 1997 October 2005Genome sequences

-25% of Arabidopsis genome sequenced

-Rice genome just initiated

-Arabidopsis finished in Dec 2000

-Rice finished in Dec 2004

-Draft poplar genome completed

-Genome sequencing underway in Medicago, tomato, grape (international efforts)

- Maize genome sequencing commence

Genome research resources and tools

-175,000 plant ESTs in dbEST/National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)

-Over 5 M ESTs in dbEST/NCBI

-Detailed integrated genome map of major crops

-Biological resources: full length cDNAs, molecular markers, mutant collections, etc.

-Tools: microarrays/gene chips, optical mapping, TILLING, informatics tools, etc.

-Database resources – PlantGDB, TAIR, MaizeGDB, Gramene, LIS, etc.

Large-scale coordinated plant genome projects

-Arabidopsis genome project -Large-scale, coordinated plant genome projects underway for rice, maize, wheat, soybean, Medicago, barley, Rosaceae, Solanacea

- Genome enabled plant biology research on major unanswered questions being tackled

Sample Plant Genome Projects

• Domestication of Corn • Sex Chromosomes in Papaya

• Functional Genomics Analysis of Fruit Flavor and Nutrition Pathways

• Floral Genome Project

• Gramene

• Soybean Seed Development

• Chromatin Control of Gene Expression

• Polyploidy

1N 2N 3N 4N1N 2N 3N 4N

The National Plant Genome Initiative: Accomplishments

• Changed plant biology forever

• Attracted students to plant biology research

• Opened up “Omics” era for plant biology

• Enabled to address long-standing, complex questions in plant biology such as epigenetics, polyploidy, environmental stress tolerance, etc.

• World leadership in fundamental research in plant genomics

NSF’s Plant Genome Research ProgramKey Factors behind Progress

• Both the community and NSF BIO were ready for a large infusion of funds for plant genome research

• Adherence to the NSF’s policies and procedures in managing the Program

• Steady increase in funding

• Active participation in the National Plant Genome Initiative in developing long-range plans and documenting progress

• Sustained broad community support

• Sustained Congressional support

• Sustained NSF support

• AD/BIO’s leadership