Improving large-scale genetic tests to find variants linked to multiple diseases
Development of large-scale composite null hypothesis testing approaches to perform translational genetics analyses
This project will create new statistical tools to find genetic changes that affect more than one disease, helping people with inherited conditions and researchers looking for new treatment targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11191590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my genetic data are included, researchers will build new computer-based methods to scan very large genetic datasets and look for gene variants tied to multiple diseases at once. The methods focus on a type of testing called "composite null" that searches for multiple signals in a set of tests rather than just any single signal. They will try these tools on genome-wide data and pleiotropy studies so results are easier to interpret and more reliable across different datasets. The hope is that the work will make it simpler to spot shared genetic causes of disease and point toward therapies that could help more than one condition.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal contributors are people who have undergone genetic testing or who are part of large genetic or disease registries that include genome-wide data.
Not a fit: People without available genetic data or whose conditions are not included in the datasets used may not see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help identify genetic changes that point to shared disease causes and possible new or repurposed treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Existing statistical methods for finding any single genetic signal are well established, but composite-null approaches for finding multiple concurrent signals and pleiotropic variants are newer and less validated.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Ryan — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Sun, Ryan
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.