Path to personalized predictions by understanding how genes interact with the environment
Official title: A path to personalized phenotypic prediction: unlocking the context-dependency of allelic effects
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11524436 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scientist at UC Berkeley is studying how a person’s genetic variations interact with daily environments to influence risk for complex diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2017 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $433,350 |
| NIH project number | 7R35GM124881-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11524436 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with diverse genetic backgrounds and varying environmental exposures who are interested in how these factors combine to affect disease risk.
✕Less likely to help
People whose health is not influenced by gene–environment interactions or who do not engage with personalized health strategies may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how genetic differences may shape health outcomes when people live in different environments. It aims to uncover the mechanisms behind genotype-by-environment interactions and the idea that modern life can reveal disease risks not seen in ancestral settings. The work uses evolutionary medicine concepts to inform how we study, prevent, and treat non-communicable diseases linked to our genomes and surroundings. By clarifying these interactions, it could guide more personalized approaches to health in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better, more personalized strategies to prevent and manage complex diseases based on an individual’s genes and environment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that gene–environment interactions can influence disease risk, but robust, mechanism-focused demonstrations in humans remain challenging and ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ayroles, Julien — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Ayroles, Julien
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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.