The database of Genotype and Phenotype (dbGaP, funded by 
the US National Institutes of Health (NIH),  was launched 
earlier this month.
It is an unprecedented repository of disease-related data 
that brings together information about the genes, health 
and lifestyles of thousands of subjects studied over many 
years. The web-based portal will allow any interested 
investigator to search across multiple epidemiological 
studies, in the hope of identifying new links to disease.
 Researchers will be able to mine vast stores of genetic, 
phenotypic and study-protocol data simultaneously. There is 
particular focus on addressing concerns over privacy.