Approved Research

The genetic architecture and environmental risk factors of pancreatitis.

Lay summary

Pancreatitis (mainly including acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis) is a condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas. Alcohol drinking, metabolic disorders (hyperlipidemia, diabetes et al) are regarded as environmental risk factors of pancreatitis. In addition, genetic factors are considered in recent years. However, some findings are still inconsistent, which need to be further investigated. We aimed to find more modifiable environmental and genetic risk factors to better understand this disease, and finally help physicians treat it in a better way. Here we have some specific goals as follows: 1) To study the associations between genetic and environmental risk factors and pancreatitis among UKB participants. 2) To understand the interaction of genetic variants and environmental factors in development of pancreatitis. 3) To predict the pancreatitis using mathematical model. In summary, our team wants to identify risk factors of pancreatitis on both genetic and environmental level and evaluate the prediction performance of known risk factors. Our works may reveal the etiology of pancreatitis and further shed lights on the pancreatitis prevention and treatment.

Scope extension:

Question:

Although some genetic loci of pancreatitis were reported, the genetic architecture and risk factors of it are still largely unknown.

Objectives:

     Identifying novel loci by genome-wide association study.

     Inferring causality to find risk factors by Mendelian randomization study.

     Predicting  the risk of pancreatitis by polygenic risk score method.

     Investigating how inflammatory factors, genetic variants and other diseases affect pancreas.

     Identifying risk factors for pancreatic cancer and the connection between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.

Question:

      Although some genetic loci of pancreatitis were reported, the genetic architecture and risk factors of it are still largely unknown.

objectives:

     Identifying novel loci by genome-wide association study.

     Inferring causality to find risk factors by Mendelian randomization study.

     Predicting the risk of pancreatitis by polygenic risk score method.

     Investigating how inflammatory factors, genetic variants, and other diseases affect the pancreas.

     Identifying risk factors for pancreatic cancer and the connection between pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.

    Investigating the risk factors of  fatty pancreas disease and its correlation with pancreatitis, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, as well as other metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis, stroke, and osteoporosis.