Kui Zhang, Mathematical Sciences
Qiuying Sha, Mathematical Sciences
It's all in the genes. But with an estimated 19,000 to 20,000 genes in the human body, and tens of thousands of variations for each, how do we figure out what our genes are trying to tell us? Statistical geneticists Qiuying Sha and Kui Zhang move closer to the answer every day.
Statistical genetics is the process of developing and applying statistical and computational methods to make inferences from genetic data. The goal is to develop a powerful method for finding the genes that cause disease.
Sha’s research centers on genetic epidemiology, which looks at the role genetic factors play in health and disease for families and populations. It also considers how genetic factors are influenced by environmental factors. Because common diseases are influenced by thousands of gene variations, and gene-to-gene and gene-to-environment interactions can influence how or whether a person develops a disease, the work is challenging.
"I want to find what causes disease so that we can find a cure," she says. "If we develop the right methodology, it can be applied to anything, as long as you have the data. The technology is improving. Now we need the right method."
Zhang's current research focuses on development of statistical methods for genotype calling and imputation for genes, especially for Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes, which help regulate the immune system. According to Zhang, variation in HLA genes is related to many complex human diseases. Understanding those variations is critical to developing therapies for immunological disorders and diseases.
"Obtaining accurate HLA genotypes from whole genome typing or sequencing is challenging and often cost prohibitive for large samples," Zhang says. Zhang and his team hope their research will result in more accurate genotype calling and imputation of HLA genes. They also plan to develop software for HLA genotype calling and imputation.
"Ultimately," Zhang says, "we hope our methods and improved accuracy for HLA genotypes will expedite our understanding of the genetic architecture of many human diseases."