Identification and functional analysis of susceptibility genes in multi- factorial diseases. (360G-Wellcome-075491_Z_04_B)

The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics was established in 1994 to undertake research into the genetic basis of common diseases. The scientific objective of the Centre is to gain insight into mechanisms controlling genetic susceptibility to human disease including the localization and identification of disease genes, functional characterization of gene variants responsible for susceptibility, understanding how gene variants contribute to risk of disease in the population and how genetic factors contribute biologically to a disease process. In order to achieve this scientific objective the Centre's strategy was to bring together multidisciplinary research groups collaborating on human and rodent genetics, genetic epidemiology, functional analysis of disease genes, cell and developmental biology and structural biology. In addition, the Centre has a strong focus of expertise, equipment and resources centralized in Core groups allowing all research groups to benefit and expand their research strategies. The Core groups in Genomics, Molecular Cytogenetics and Microscopy, Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics, and Transgenics provide first-rate services and perform research and development on new platform technologies as well as algorithms and databases needed to analyse complex datasets. This application is to continue our Centre status and provide funding for the running of these Core groups over the next five years.