Genetic Epidemiology
This program evaluates familial aggregation of cancer using sophisticated tools of segregation analysis and aims at developing and applying innovative methods of analysis for family data and linkage studies (Drs. Amos, Shete, Daw, King). Statistical methods including association for familial data and segregation and linkage analytic approaches have been developed to specifically permit modeling genetic and environmental effects on disease etiology.
Dr. Bondy is directing the largest-ever linkage study of malignant gliomas. She is also applying innovative susceptibility markers to identify high-risk subgroups for malignant glioma. Dr. Amos is studying genetic factors for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare autosomal-dominant condition due to germline mutations in the LKB1 gene. Dr. Frazier is funded for the generation of an LKB1 knockout mouse.
We intend to continue our focus on developing novel methods for robust genetic linkage tests to identify disease-causing loci and for characterizing the degree to which genetic factors contribute to disease causation. We will develop linkage methods to allow for variable time to onset and for multiple outcomes, common issues in cancer genetics that have not been adequately studied. We will also work on novel statistical methods to assist in disequilibrium mapping, which takes advantage of the enormous quantities of genetic marker data that are now available.