Genetic epidemiology

Mission

To investigate the genetic and environmental influences on the etiology, prediction, and prognosis of cardiometabolic, renal, and other common chronic complex diseases.

Content

The unit plays a key role in teaching and in the genetic data analysis of all the major cohort studies in the UMCG. Our training activities include involvement in Epidemiology B registration, and providing introductory and advanced courses in genetic epidemiology, and introductory courses in R and how to handle Lifelines data on the high performance computer cluster. We coordinate the genetic studies performed in the Lifelines, TRAILS and GECKO cohorts. The unit staff are active members, leaders or co-leaders of consortia performing (epi)genome-wide association studies on blood pressure, kidney function, inflammatory factors, heart rate variability, fertility and birthweight.