Mutation (variation) databases and registries: a rationale for coordination of efforts

Here we argue that coor-dination of international efforts for develop -ing comprehensive mutation databases and patient phenotype registries is essential for optimal genetic health care.Well-funded international efforts for set -ting up mutation databases or registries are crucial for several reasons. Many variants that are found during clinical testing world-wide are not submitted to databases, where they could form an important resource for patient care. Many laboratories and clini-cians do not have the capacity or incentive to submit data to databases. This is espe-cially the case in developing countries owing mainly to technical insufficiency, lack of public awareness, lack of international com -munications, the absence of the concept of DNA biobanking, national authority restric -tions and lack of translation from original languages to English. The Human Variome Project (HVP) was initiated to facilitate the collection of all variants in all genes from all countries and to include annotation of these variants for pathogenicity and relevance to clinical medicine