Genetic Epidemiology

Senior Scientist

Professor Nick Martin

Summary

The Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory seeks to identify the particular genes involved in complex disease etiology. To this end QIMR is a major partner in the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) for Discovery of Genes for Common Human Diseases. The key resource for such advances to be possible is a large sample of pairs of relatives measured for their traits of interest. Studies conducted by QIMR of more than 7,000 twin pairs over the past 10 years provide just such a resource.

QTwin is a population-based registry of identical and non-identical twins of all ages born in, or living in, Queensland. Twins are playing an important role in the scientific and medical research and can help extend scientific understanding of what makes us human, the things that keep us well and the things that make us sick.

The laboratory includes the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Research Group.

Conditions researched

• Melanoma
• Alcohol and nicotine dependence
• Mole development
• Iron absorption
• Endometriosis
• Super-fertility and twinning
• Migraine
• Anxiety, depression and fatigue
• Osteoarthritis
• Asthma

Current research

• Genetics of asthma
• Genetics of alcohol and nicotine dependence
• A twin study of mole development in adolescence
• A twin study of mental abilities and cognitive performance
• A twin study of blood cell numbers
• Biology and molecular genetics of dizygotic twinning
• The role of ADH and ALDH polymorphisms in alcohol sensitivity in humans
• The role of HFE polymorphisms in iron metabolism in Australian twins
• Genetic influences on endometriosis
• Asthma and allergy in Australian twins and their families
• Osteoarthritis in ageing twins
• Psychosocial factors in cancer proneness in ageing twins
• Genetic factors in anxiety, depression and fatigue
• Genetic analysis of migraine and comorbid psychiatric disorders using twin families

Staff

Funding

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following funding agencies:

• NIH (National Institute of Health)
• NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
• NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)

Collaborators

Professor Lyn Griffiths and Ms Claire Bellis, Griffith University, Brisbane

Dr Rod Lea, ESR Kenepuru Science Centre, New Zealand

Professor Dorret Boomsma and Mr Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Dr Shaun Purcell, Broad Institute, Boston, USA.

Professor Bryan Mowry, Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane

Dr Jamie Craig and Dr Alex Hewitt, Flinders University, Adelaide

Dr Kevin Brown, TGen, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Professor Luba Kalaydjieva, University of Western Australia, Perth

Professor Nick Hayward, Oncogenomics Laboratory, QIMR

Dr Grant Montgomery, Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, QIMR