Jay Tischfield, the esteemed founding director of the Human Genetics Institute of New Jersey at Rutgers University, has built a reputation for his meticulous custodianship of cellular samples. Over the past three decades, he has managed one of the largest university-based DNA banks globally, with a significant portion dedicated to storing samples on behalf of the U.S. government.
One of the notable projects under Tischfield’s supervision is the storage of approximately 23,000 tubes of frozen saliva collected from individuals with psychiatric and substance use disorders in the early 2010s. These samples have been pivotal in extracting DNA and unraveling genetic connections between substance use disorders and mental health conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The data obtained from this project, known as NESARC-III, are accessible to researchers worldwide through an NIH repository.
However, the physical specimens of these samples are exclusively housed at Rutgers University under Tischfield’s care. Recently, the future of these valuable resources has been cast into uncertainty due to budget cuts affecting NIH contracts. Tischfield was caught off guard when he received an email notifying him of the early termination of his five-year, $676,000 contract for storing the NESARC-III samples, without any guidance on their disposal.
The abrupt termination of the contract has left Tischfield with unanswered questions about the fate of the frozen saliva samples. As the custodian of this invaluable genetic material, he is grappling with the dilemma of ensuring the preservation and potential future use of these samples.
The situation underscores the challenges faced by researchers and institutions reliant on government funding for scientific endeavors. The uncertain future of the NESARC-III samples serves as a reminder of the fragility of research infrastructure and the vital role of funding in sustaining scientific progress.
As Tischfield navigates the complexities of this unforeseen development, the scientific community awaits clarity on the fate of the precious genetic samples and the implications for ongoing research initiatives. The story of the NESARC-III samples highlights the importance of safeguarding scientific resources and the need for sustainable funding mechanisms to support groundbreaking research efforts.
