‘Leveraging population differences to learn about the genetic basis of complex traits’
This seminar will be held using Zoom. Please register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckd-murzIsH9TAowJU6QwJEgcXekF04sf7
Currently, large-scale studies of complex trait are conducted predominantly in Europeans. The projects that I talk about highlight the importance expanding human genomics studies to divers populations and show how differences in genetic ancestry can be leveraged to learn about the genetic basis of complex traits. Specifically, I will share examples from our recently published work on genetics of height which led to the discovery of a novel, population-specific variant that reduces height by 2.2 cm per allele (Asgari, et. al, Nature, 2020). I will also share results from our ongoing work on the role of Native Peruvian ancestry in susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) showing that Native ancestry can increase TB progression risk independently of socio-demographic and environmental confounders Asgari, et. al, medRxiv, 2020). To conclude, I will discuss how the frameworks that I discussed above can be applied to future human genetic studies including studies of host genomics in order to improve understanding of the biological processes involved in immunity, facilitate drug development, and reduce health disparities.
Date: 21 October 2020, 14:00 (Wednesday, 2nd week, Michaelmas 2020)
Venue: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Headington OX3 7FY
Venue Details: This seminar will be held using Zoom. Please register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckd-murzIsH9TAowJU6QwJEgcXekF04sf7
Speaker: Dr Samira Asgari (Harvard Medical School)
Organising department: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS)
Organisers: Jennifer Pope (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology), Professor Irina Udalova (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology)
Organiser contact email address: jennifer.pope@kennedy.ox.ac.uk
Host: Professor Mike Dustin (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology)
Part of: Kennedy Institute Seminars
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckd-murzIsH9TAowJU6QwJEgcXekF04sf7
Audience: Public
Editor: Jennifer Pope