How ancestry affects DNA methylation and gene-to-gene interactions
meQTL Discovery in Admixed Human Genomes Facilitates Estimates of Epistasis
['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · NIH-11180512
This project looks at how genetic ancestry changes DNA methylation and gene-to-gene interactions using samples from admixed South African participants to help make genetic risk predictions work better for diverse people.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DAVIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11180512 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers will collect genetic data and genome-wide DNA methylation measurements from about 500 admixed South African volunteers. They will compare genetic effects on methylation across different ancestry segments within the same people to separate ancestry-related gene interactions from environmental influences. Because methylation gives thousands of measurements per person, the team can search for subtle gene-gene interactions that might cause current genetic risk scores to fail in non-European populations. The work aims to estimate how often these ancestry-specific interactions occur and whether they explain poor prediction portability across groups.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults from admixed South African communities (people with mixed African and non-African ancestry) who can provide a blood or saliva sample.
Not a fit: People without admixed African ancestry or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct health benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve the accuracy of genetic risk predictions for people with African or mixed ancestry.
How similar studies have performed: Prior genetics studies have shown prediction models often fail across ancestries, but using genome-wide methylation to study ancestry-dependent gene interactions is a relatively new and exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
DAVIS, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS — DAVIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HENN, BRENNA M — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- Study coordinator: HENN, BRENNA M
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.