Genetic studies have transformed our understanding of health, diseases, and human variation. Yet, a crucial aspect often gets overlooked: How well these studies perform across the genetic ancestry continuum. Most large-scale genetic studies are based on individuals of European genetic ancestry; but geographical, demographic, and cultural differences create unique genetic patterns and health-impacting risk factors. Therefore, findings from these studies don’t always transfer well to other ancestries.

This is evident for polygenic scores. Polygenic scores, which represent genetic risk of as a single score, have been shown to be up to 78% less accurate for individuals of African genetic ancestry compared to individuals of European genetic ancestry (Martin et al., Nat Genet 2019). Addressing this challenge is critical to avoid increasing health disparities in clinical practice. In this session, we will discuss the existing disparities in genetic studies, implications of the transferability gap on clinical practice, and steps to bridge the genetic data diversity gap. Let’s work together to make genetic research more inclusive and effective for everyone!

Program

Current status of inclusion in genetic studies: Insights from Loes Olde Loohuis
talk by Dr. Loes Olde Loohuis, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (20 minutes)

Closing the genetic data diversity gap: Spectrum Biobank
talk by Dr Yambazi Banda, Executive Director of Spectrum Biobank (20 minutes)

Blood is thicker than water: improving genetic prediction of psychiatric disorders by informed family history
talk by Jette Steinbach, PhD Student at the National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University (15 minutes)

A robust liability scale coefficient of determination
talk by Emil Pedersen, Postdoc at the National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University (15 minutes)

Organizers

• Jette Steinbach, PhD Student at the National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Denmark
• Bjarni J. Vilhjálmsson, Professor at the National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus University, Denmark
• Andrew J. Schork, Research Leader at the Institute of Biological Psychiatry (IBP), Mental Health Centre Sct Hans, Roskilde, Denmark

Level

Intermediate