How genetic differences across populations shape common disease risk
Characterizing the evolutionary architecture of complex disease within and across diverse populations
This project looks at how DNA differences in people from diverse backgrounds affect the risk of common diseases so genetic findings work better for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140495 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers combine genetic data from many ancestral groups to see how DNA variants influence disease risk, taking into account differences in variant frequencies and how nearby DNA is inherited together. They use multi-population genome-wide analyses and statistical models that include natural selection and functional genomic regions to pinpoint likely causal variants. By integrating diverse datasets, the team aims to increase the accuracy and resolution of genetic discovery across populations. The work focuses on computational and statistical methods applied to human genetic and health data rather than testing a specific treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people from diverse ancestral backgrounds who can share genetic data and basic health information or consent to use of their stored genetic/health datasets.
Not a fit: People without accessible genetic or health data, those unwilling to share such data, or those whose conditions are primarily environmental may not receive direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make genetic discoveries and risk predictions more accurate and equitable across different ancestries, improving chances for better diagnosis and future targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous multi-population GWAS and cross-ancestry methods have improved discovery and fine-mapping, and this project builds on and expands those approaches to better model evolutionary forces.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mancuso, Nicholas — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Mancuso, Nicholas
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.