Identifying genetic variants and predicting disease risk across different ancestries
Official title: Methods for multi-ancestry and multi-trait fine-mapping and genetic risk prediction
Funded at Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-10937068 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how our genes can affect our risk of getting certain diseases, especially by including information from different ancestry groups to make predictions more accurate for everyone, and it’s designed for anyone interested in understanding their genetic health risks better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | June 24, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $41,157 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HG013040-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10937068 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals from various ancestry backgrounds who are interested in understanding their genetic risk for diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a genetic predisposition to the diseases being studied may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on identifying genetic variants that cause diseases and developing polygenic risk scores (PRS) to predict individual disease risk using genetic information. It addresses the limitation of current genetic datasets, which predominantly represent European populations, by proposing methods that utilize data from multiple ancestry groups. By sharing information across different ancestries and diseases, the research aims to improve the accuracy of genetic risk predictions and reduce health disparities. The study employs advanced statistical models to enhance the identification of causal variants and their implications for drug targeting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate disease risk predictions for individuals from diverse ancestry backgrounds, ultimately improving health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in using multi-ancestry approaches for genetic studies, indicating the potential effectiveness of this novel methodology.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rossen, Jordan — Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Rossen, Jordan
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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.