STUDIES OF EUROPEAN VOLUNTEER TWINS TO IDENTIFY GENES UNDERLYING COMMON DISEASES
We aim to capitalize special advantages of Europe in population genetics by efficient collaboration of twin researchers, genetic epidemiologists, molecular geneticists and mathematicians. Our goal is to identify critical genetic and life-style risk factors for common diseases using European strengths in genetics, epidemiology and biocomputing.
European populations and epidemiological cohorts are of special significance in the current era of genomic research aiming to characterize the background of common human diseases. The genome sequence, detailed information of genetic variations between individuals, high-throughput molecular technologies and novel statistical strategies create new possibilities to define genetic and life-style risk factors behind common health problems. Studies of large population cohorts are needed to transform the genetic information to detailed understanding of the predisposing factors in diseases affecting most human populations. European twin cohorts provide a unique competitive advantage for investigations of the role of genetics and environment or life style in the etiology of common diseases. This project will apply and develop new molecular and statistical strategies to analyze unique European twin and other population cohorts to define and characterise the genetic, environmental and life-style components in the background of health problems like obesity, migraine, coronary heart disease and stroke, representing major health care problems worldwide.
This project is supported by the European Commission
under the programme
'Quality of Life and Management of the Living Resources'
of 5th Framework Programme (no. QLG2-CT-2002-01254).