polygenic risk score

(iStock)

Breast cancer risk variants identified for women of African ancestry

A study led by researchers from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center sheds light on some of the genetic variants that make breast cancer more deadly for women of African ancestry and significantly reduces the disparity in knowledge for assessing their genomic risk factors.

Higher genetic risk of obesity means working out harder for same results 

Study authors used activity, clinical and genetic data from the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program to explore the association of genetic risk of higher body mass index and the level of physical activity needed to reduce incident obesity. 

VUMC part of major step to achieving precision medicine

An analysis of genomic data from nearly 250,000 participants in the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program has identified more than 275 million previously unreported genetic variations, nearly 4 million of which have potential health consequences.

Polygenic “scores” may improve cancer screening

Accounting for genetic variability in biomarkers not associated with cancer risk could avoid unnecessary diagnostic procedures, Vanderbilt researchers found.

Genetics and chronic pain

Polygenic risk scores — scores that reflect the influence of common genetic variants — could be used to predict the likelihood of developing chronic overlapping pain conditions and guide biomarker and targeted prevention efforts.

Research by Mingjian Shi, PhD, left, Jonathan Mosley, MD, PhD, Kerry Schaffer, MD, MSCI, and colleagues found that polygenic risk score does not improve prediction of aggressive prostate cancer.

Study evaluates polygenic risk score for prostate cancer risk prediction

A Vanderbilt study found that prostate cancer polygenic risk score has limited utility for enhancing prostate cancer screening.

1 2