Mapping the Genetic Architecture of Complex Disease via RNA-seq and GWAS

首席调查员/项目主任(末位、第一位、中间)：赵忠明 项目摘要 全基因组关联研究(GWAS)和RNA测序(RNA-Seq)是研究 在基因组和转录水平上研究遗传变异对复杂疾病的影响， 分别进行了分析。特别是对于RNA-Seq，它正迅速崛起为一种区分差异的强大工具 基因在疾病中的表达；然而，由于基因的复杂性，仍然存在许多挑战 规章制度。在这项建议中，我们结合统计学、生物信息学和遗传学来开发新的分析方法 最大限度地利用来自GWAS和RNA-Seq研究的信息以了解 复杂疾病，尤指精神分裂症背后的基因结构。我们的提案将是第一个 综合全球气候分析和RNA-Seq数据的系统方法的方法学开发。我们建议 以下四个主要目标：(1)开发新的分析策略，以确定基因和途径 通过利用通过RNA测序测量的功能信息来丰富GWAs中的关联信号。我们 将这种方法定义为RNA-Seq辅助的GWAS分析。(2)发展新的分析策略，以 利用RNASeq数据中丰富的关联信号识别基因和途径 基因表达的遗传学研究。我们将这种方法定义为面向RNA-Seq的分析。(3)适用 方法在AIMS 1和AIMS 2中，我们已经从82个脑样本中产生了RNA-Seq数据 收集自斯坦利医学研究所，并获得了以下四个主要的全球气候变化数据集 精神分裂症(ISC、GAIN、非GAIN和CATIE：总共6000多例病例和6000名对照)。这 应用程序还将帮助我们改进目标1和目标2中的策略。(4)开发计算工具 检测疾病基因，即导致复杂疾病的途径。这些工具将成为有用的资源 用于公共社区，并可应用于任何复杂的疾病与现有的RNA-Seq和GWAs 数据集。目标1和目标2的成功完成将为我们提供重要的综合手段 Gwas和RNA-Seq数据集的基因组分析。目标3的成功完成将为我们提供一个 精神分裂症未来验证的优先候选基因和途径列表。成功者 AIM 4的完成将为调查人员提供计算工具和用户友好的在线系统 用Gwas和RNA-Seq研究复杂疾病。 项目说明第6页

Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, first, middle): Zhao, Zhongming Project Summary Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) are two major approaches for studying the effects of genetic variations on complex diseases at the genomic and transcriptomic levels, respectively. Specifically for RNA-Seq, it is rapidly emerging as a powerful tool for identifying differentially expressed genes in diseases; however, many challenges remain because of the complexity in gene regulations. In this proposal, we combine statistics, bioinformatics, and genetics to develop novel analytical strategies that maximally leverage information from both GWAS and RNA-Seq studies in order to understand the genetic architecture underlying complex diseases, especially schizophrenia. Our proposal will be the first methodology development for a systems approach that integrates GWAS and RNA-Seq data. We propose the following four major aims: (1) To develop novel analytical strategies to identify genes and pathways with enriched association signals in GWAS by leveraging functional information measured by RNA sequencing. We define this approach as RNA-Seq assisted GWAS analysis. (2) To develop novel analytical strategies to identify genes and pathways with enriched association signals in RNA-Seq data by leveraging information from genetics of gene expression studies. We define this approach as RNA-Seq oriented analysis. (3) To apply the methods in Aims 1 and 2 to schizophrenia, which we have generated RNA-Seq data from 82 brain samples collected from the Stanley Medical Research Institute and gained access to four major GWAS datasets for schizophrenia (ISC, GAIN, nonGAIN, and CATIE: a total of more than 6000 cases and 6000 controls). This application will also help us refine the strategies in Aims 1 and 2. (4) To develop computational tools for detecting disease genes, pathways that lead to complex diseases. These tools will become a useful resource for the public community and can be applied to any complex diseases with available RNA-Seq and GWAS datasets. The successful completions of Aims 1 and 2 will provide us with important methods for integrative genomic analysis of GWAS and RNA-Seq datasets. The successful completion of Aim 3 will provide us with a list of prioritized candidate genes and pathways for future validation on schizophrenia. The successful completion of Aim 4 will provide computational tools and a user-friendly online system for investigators who study complex diseases using GWAS and RNA-Seq. Project Description Page 6