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Translational 'omics of the hidden genome for equitable precision medicine

Year:
2024
Duration:
36 months
Approved budget:
$1,199,988.28
Researchers:
Dr Megan Leask
,
Professor Alan Davidson
,
Associate Professor Phillip Wilcox
,
Dr Sarah Diermeier
,
Professor Julia Horsfield
,
Associate Professor Elizabeth Ledgerwood
,
Dr Hannah Darroch
,
Mr Caleb Calhoun
Host:
University of Otago
Health issue:
Metabolic and endocrine (excl. diabetes and bone)
Proposal type:
Project
Lay summary
Cardiometabolic diseases (e.g.,type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and gout) are increasing in prevalence worldwide at an alarming rate. A precision medicine approach to tackling metabolic disease, informed by an individual’s genetics, promises to save lives, improve quality of life and lower medical costs. However, for Māori and Pacific people there is a critical need to expand the development of genetic resources and analyses, and build genetics capabilities in Aotearoa if these groups are to receive equal medical care in the future. In this study, we aim to reduce the precision medicine gap for Māori and Pacific people by applying large data techniques to genetic data from Māori and Pacific individuals, and identify unique genetics that can be targeted in the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases.