Genetics to improve prostate cancer risk prediction across diverse ancestries
Multiethnic GWAS and TWAS to Inform Risk Prediction for Prostate Cancer
This project uses DNA from men of different racial and ethnic backgrounds to find genetic markers that better predict who is at higher risk for prostate cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11067782 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would be part of a large effort that combines genetic data from tens to hundreds of thousands of men from African, Asian, Latino, and European ancestries to find DNA differences linked to prostate cancer and aggressive disease. The team uses genome-wide scans (GWAS) and analyses that connect gene activity to disease (TWAS), and they align all data to a multiethnic whole-genome reference to improve coverage. They look for both ancestry-specific and shared genetic signals by comparing people with prostate cancer to controls. If I contribute a saliva or blood sample and basic health information, my data would help build better risk tools for men like me.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are men (both those with prostate cancer and those without) from diverse ancestries who can provide a DNA sample and basic health or medical history information.
Not a fit: People who are not male or who need immediate treatment decisions will not get direct clinical benefit from this research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more accurate, ancestry-appropriate genetic risk scores that help identify men at higher risk for prostate cancer earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Previous GWAS have already found many prostate cancer risk variants, and this larger multiethnic and TWAS-focused effort builds on those successes to find additional and population-specific markers.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haiman, Christopher Alan — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Haiman, Christopher Alan
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.