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Approved research

MGI Center for Common Disease Genomics

Principal Investigator: Dr Ira Hall
Approved Research ID: 27047
Approval date: June 27th 2017

Lay summary

The McDonnell Genome Institute (MGI) Center for Common Disease Genomics (CCDG) aims to comprehensively identify variants, genes, and pathways underlying complex human diseases and quantitative traits. We are focused on cardiovascular, autoimmune and neuropsychiatric diseases. We propose to use UK Biobank data to 1) validate associations discovered within our studies; 2) investigate pleiotropic effects of associations discovered within our studies; 3) enhance statistical power of our studies by incorporating additional cases and controls; and 4) extend our studies to incorporate additional samples and phenotypes in polygenic risk prediction, pathway analysis, statistical methods development, and analyses of gene by environment interactions. Our project goal is to discover variants, genes and pathways that underlie common human diseases. This work is consistent with UK Biobank?s goal of ?improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide-range of serious and life-threatening illnesses?. The McDonnell Genome Institute (MGI) Center for Common Disease Genomics (CCDG) is an NHGRI funded project with a goal to comprehensively discover risk and protective factors underlying a range of complex genetic disorders. In this project, we aim to use the UK Biobank datasets to enhance our CCDG study of complex human diseases, improving our ability to identify variants, genes, and pathways underlying these diseases and associated risk factors. Our study has the potential to identify causal genes and networks underlying complex traits and diseases and lead to better personalized medical care. We aim to utilize the full cohort.