GTEx — Genotype-Tissue Expression
Overview
GTEx is a US National Institutes of Health project that characterises how genetic variation shapes gene expression across the human body. It samples brain tissue from about a dozen distinct anatomical regions per donor, supporting brain-region-specific gene expression research relevant to neuroscience and psychiatric genetics. Launched in 2010, the project completed its core round of donor recruitment and tissue sampling in 2020. Biospecimen collection has since concluded. Current releases, v10 and v11 as of 2026, reprocess the existing samples with updated gene annotations rather than adding new donors.
Scale (2020 v8 release)
- Donors: 948
- RNA sequencing samples: 17,000+
- Tissue sites: 54
Access
- Processed, non-identifiable gene expression, eQTL, and sQTL summary data are available for direct download from the GTEx Portal without registration.
- Individual-level genotype and raw sequencing data, along with de-identified tissue histology images, require a data access request through dbGaP.
- Physical biospecimens, including DNA, RNA, blood, and cell lines, can be requested from the Broad Institute for research not achievable through the existing molecular data alone.
Connections
- registeredIn: dbGaP