Better Statistical Methods To Discover Host Genetic Factors In Symptom Response To SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$290,137.00
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has infected >5 million people worldwide. While the majority of infected individuals recover within a few weeks of infection, others develop severe forms, that in some cases prove fatal. To date, the causes of differences in symptom response are unknown. In this proposal, we seek to discover genetic factors that can contribute to explaining these differences. Our findings have the potential to inform the design and analysis of clinical trials for vaccines and treatments.
Integrating Statistical Imputation Of HLA And KIR Alleles Into Studies Of Disease In Diverse Human Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,218.00
Summary
Immune system genes are strongly implicated in many infectious and autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer. Some of these genes have many possible types due to natural selection in response to pathogens. This variability makes typing these genes very expensive. Developing accurate and inexpensive methods to type these genes is vital in understanding the role they play in susceptibility and progression of disease and will be important for the development of better diagnostic tests and treatments.
Development And Evaluation Of Statistical Methods And Software For Analysis Of Complex Genetic Disease Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,250,371.00
Summary
What are the major factors underpinning complex genetic diseases like diabetes, bipolar disorder or cancer? To answer this question new tools are needed, including software for mining the human genome with interactions between the genome and environment being incorporated. This is our focus. It will form the basis of a superior understanding of the overall process leading to disease and hence better predictions with important ramifications for new treatments and health care planning.
I am an NHMRC Australia Fellow and mathematical statistician by training, specializing in the design and analysis of family and twin studies. I lead or co-lead large international molecular, environmental, genetic and analytic epidemiology family resources for studying breast, bowel and other cancers. My vision is realise the full potential of these studies to improve the health and well-being people at increased familial or genetic risk of these diseases.
Biomedical research now routinely generates massive, complex datasets using next generation sequencing platforms and other high throughput “omics” technologies. Our unique program will develop powerful computational and statistical methods to analyse such data. We will apply these methods to a range of human diseases including cancer, and infectious and genetics disease, contributing to deeper insight into pathological states.
Environmental Risk Factors For Iron Overload-related Disease In A Cohort Study Of Hereditary Haemochromatosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$152,936.00
Summary
Results published last year from our Melbourne HealthIron study of hereditary haemochromatosis (iron overload disease) show that almost one third of the 50,000 men genetically at risk of iron overload in Australia will develop symptoms of disease including fatigue, arthritis and liver damage. We will use data from the recent follow-up of the Health2020 cohort, of which HealthIron is a sub-study, to determine environmental risk factors for progression to disease in people with iron overload.