Approved Research

Towards generalized risk scores: the role of GWAS and PRS supporting new approaches for clinical application.

Lay summary

In this research proposal we intend to improve the current state-of the-art (trans) genomic approaches with the aim of making them more useful for clinical application, namely in cancer prediction, stratification, and screening as well as for other diseases, such as glaucoma, coronary artery disease, Alzheimer's, type I and I diabetes, CVD, and mental diseases in general.

Specifically, we intend to add DNA downstream information (multi-omics) as well as clinical data (e.g. family history, age, lifestyle choices, bmi, reproductive health, alcohol intake, country of origin, etc - this will strongly depend on the studied disease) to create Generalized Risk scores that would be more resilient and more accurate relative to the strict use of the PRS information.

As we've already said above, the impact will be tremendous: the individual early diagnosis of disease and its early treatment, the possible remission of many types of cancer reduced to chronic diseases (with regular surveillance), the stratification of the population, allowing only those that really need the treatment to obtain it, thus saving huge amounts of resources to the public health systems, while contributing to a better health for everyone.

Indeed, that's our goal, to contribute that people can live healthier, longer, happier lives.