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Manchester, UK: PhD Studentship, Arthritis Research Campaign Epidemiology Unit, University of Manchester, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
Job Title: PhD Studentship
Employer: University of Manchester
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Date: May 31, 2007
Job Description
Description: University of Manchester
PhD Studentship
ARC PhD Studentship
ARC Epidemiology Unit
Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
Identifying loci of modest effect in rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in the HLA region
The Arthritis Research Campaign Epidemiology Unit (ARCeu) is inviting applications for a distinguished ARC funded PhD studentship. Due to the nature of the funding the studentship is open to UK/EU nationals only and will attract an annual maintenance stipend of £12, 600 in addition to UK/EU fees. Although there is no fixed start date for the studentship it is anticipated that the study would commence in September 2007.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the world population. It is an autoimmune disease with an estimated heritability of 60%. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region on chromosome 6p21.3 is the major susceptibility locus to RA, contributing about half of the heritability. Genetic studies have consistently demonstrated that HLA-DRB1 is the primary locus of RA susceptibility with a major effect size, but it is highly probable that other loci of modest effect are also present in the HLA region.
The difficulty of identifying such loci lies in the extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the region. LD is a phenomenon where individuals share a large segment of chromosome, and such sharing makes it difficult to separate disease susceptibility effect of one locus from that of others in the same segment. Statistical methods and computational tools have to be applied to account for this inter-dependence and derive any independent effect for individual loci.
The Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) Epidemiology Unit is part of the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC), conducting whole genome association studies for seven common diseases including RA. The RA cases versus controls data has the HLA region well covered. This highly valuable dataset will be the initial target for this exciting project. Conclusions drawn from it will be tested against other internal and external data and will be replicated by genotyping further samples.
The successful candidate will be expected to conduct the following researches:
1. Review the literature about HLA implications in RA, LD and causes of LD in the HLA region, and statistical methods of LD and haplotype mapping in high LD regions
2. Conduct disease association analysis in the HLA region and identify genetic markers that are suggesting a major effect and those suggesting a modest effect
3. Analyze the patterns of LD, haplotypes, recombination and selection in the region and align these patterns with association signals
4. Apply and develop statistical tools to disentangle true RA association from marker association, and determine independent effects for individual loci
5. Test findings in other datasets, design and conduct replication studies.
The development of skills in shell/perl scripting and programming in C or C++, large scale genetic data analysis and algorithm development in disease association mapping will all be mastered by the successful candidate.
The project would suit biological graduates with computing and bioinformatics skills as well as individuals with a degree in mathematics, statistics, computing and bioinformatics. A strong interest in genetics is essential whilst working experience in statistical genetics would be an advantage.
Statistical genetics is an exciting and fast developing area in both academia and industry. With training in genetics, bioinformatics, computing and statistics this studentship provides an ideal platform for career development in this pioneering branch of science.
Applicants should submit a CV and detailed covering letter outlining their suitability for the study to Mrs Catherine Barrow:
catherine.barrow@manchester.ac.uk
Contact details for two academic or professional referees should also be provided.
It is expected that short-listed candidates would be invited to interview during July.
Applications are welcomed up to and including Tuesday June 26th 2007
The project will be jointly supervised by Dr Xiayi Ke and Dr Wendy Thomson based within the School of Translational Medicine.
For further information on the study please contact Catherine Barrow at the address above.
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/staff/150717
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/staff/85509
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/
Employer: University of Manchester
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Date: May 31, 2007
Job Description
Description: University of Manchester
PhD Studentship
ARC PhD Studentship
ARC Epidemiology Unit
Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
Identifying loci of modest effect in rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in the HLA region
The Arthritis Research Campaign Epidemiology Unit (ARCeu) is inviting applications for a distinguished ARC funded PhD studentship. Due to the nature of the funding the studentship is open to UK/EU nationals only and will attract an annual maintenance stipend of £12, 600 in addition to UK/EU fees. Although there is no fixed start date for the studentship it is anticipated that the study would commence in September 2007.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the world population. It is an autoimmune disease with an estimated heritability of 60%. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region on chromosome 6p21.3 is the major susceptibility locus to RA, contributing about half of the heritability. Genetic studies have consistently demonstrated that HLA-DRB1 is the primary locus of RA susceptibility with a major effect size, but it is highly probable that other loci of modest effect are also present in the HLA region.
The difficulty of identifying such loci lies in the extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the region. LD is a phenomenon where individuals share a large segment of chromosome, and such sharing makes it difficult to separate disease susceptibility effect of one locus from that of others in the same segment. Statistical methods and computational tools have to be applied to account for this inter-dependence and derive any independent effect for individual loci.
The Arthritis Research Campaign (arc) Epidemiology Unit is part of the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium (WTCCC), conducting whole genome association studies for seven common diseases including RA. The RA cases versus controls data has the HLA region well covered. This highly valuable dataset will be the initial target for this exciting project. Conclusions drawn from it will be tested against other internal and external data and will be replicated by genotyping further samples.
The successful candidate will be expected to conduct the following researches:
1. Review the literature about HLA implications in RA, LD and causes of LD in the HLA region, and statistical methods of LD and haplotype mapping in high LD regions
2. Conduct disease association analysis in the HLA region and identify genetic markers that are suggesting a major effect and those suggesting a modest effect
3. Analyze the patterns of LD, haplotypes, recombination and selection in the region and align these patterns with association signals
4. Apply and develop statistical tools to disentangle true RA association from marker association, and determine independent effects for individual loci
5. Test findings in other datasets, design and conduct replication studies.
The development of skills in shell/perl scripting and programming in C or C++, large scale genetic data analysis and algorithm development in disease association mapping will all be mastered by the successful candidate.
The project would suit biological graduates with computing and bioinformatics skills as well as individuals with a degree in mathematics, statistics, computing and bioinformatics. A strong interest in genetics is essential whilst working experience in statistical genetics would be an advantage.
Statistical genetics is an exciting and fast developing area in both academia and industry. With training in genetics, bioinformatics, computing and statistics this studentship provides an ideal platform for career development in this pioneering branch of science.
Applicants should submit a CV and detailed covering letter outlining their suitability for the study to Mrs Catherine Barrow:
catherine.barrow@manchester.ac.uk
Contact details for two academic or professional referees should also be provided.
It is expected that short-listed candidates would be invited to interview during July.
Applications are welcomed up to and including Tuesday June 26th 2007
The project will be jointly supervised by Dr Xiayi Ke and Dr Wendy Thomson based within the School of Translational Medicine.
For further information on the study please contact Catherine Barrow at the address above.
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/staff/150717
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/staff/85509
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/
posted by Editor @ 6/15/2007
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