Scotland | Islands targeted in MS study

By Dr Jim Wilson
Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh




Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease, with genetic and environmental risk factors.

 

Genetic studies which attempted to find these genes, however, have not met with much success.

I am leading a study, which has recently been funded by the MS Society, into the genetics of multiple sclerosis.

The project will take a new approach to identifying the genes underlying MS risk using novel technology, and analyses an important population - the MS patients from the islands of Orkney and Shetland.

These islands have some of the highest rates of MS in the world and are less complex genetically than urban populations, which is an advantage for finding genes.

The two-year project aims to collect DNA samples from all willing patients and a set of controls, who do not have the disease.
A genome-wide scan will be performed using hundreds of thousands of DNA markers.

The data will then be analysed using homozygosity mapping, a powerful approach which depends on shared ancestry and which has recently successfully located new genes influencing the risk of autism.

Exploring the basic mechanisms underlying susceptibility to MS will increase our knowledge of the disease so that new means of diagnosis and treatment might be identified.

It may eventually be possible to identify new genes that are implicated in the development of the disease, which would potentially act as targets for new drugs.

Anyone interested in taking part in the study can call 0131 651 1643 or email Orkney@ed.ac.uk.


There is more about multiple sclerosis and the apparent Scottish link in Elizabeth Quigley's television investigation, "Scotland's Hidden Epidemic: The truth about MS", which will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland at 2245 BST on Wednesday.






source:

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Islands targeted in MS study

 Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7521329.stm