Most complex diseases result from the interplay between environmental and genetic factors. Investigating the associations between disease outcomes and risk factors is crucial to elucidating the biological mechanisms underlying these conditions.
This project will focus on complex and refractory chronic diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, organ fibrosis, mental disorders, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. We aim to explore both inherited and environmental contributors to the incidence and severity of these conditions.
Leveraging the extensive data resources of the UK Biobank, we will identify risk factors spanning genetic variation, cellular traits, lifestyle behaviors, and the social environment. Specifically, our objectives are to:
* Analyze diverse risk factors for complex chronic diseases;
* Assess potential interactions between these factors; and
* Clarify their relationships with disease onset and progression.
We also intend to develop models to uncover previously unrecognized risk factors and their associations with disease phenotypes, thereby advancing our understanding of disease mechanisms.
The insights gained from this research may lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers for early detection, prevention, and targeted intervention of chronic diseases with complex etiologies.
The project is initially planned for three years, with the possibility of extension depending on methodological developments and the emergence of new findings that warrant external validation.