Characterisation of glioma risk loci (360G-Wellcome-207071_Z_17_Z)

While few environmental exposures have been identified to affect glioma risk, 13 genetic loci that influence the risk of this disease have been identified in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Many of these loci lie in non-coding regions of the genome and therefore have no direct effect on protein sequence. It is therefore believed that these loci may affect glioma risk by modulating the expression of cancer genes. The key aim of this project is to characterise previously identified glioma risk loci by measuring the enrichment of transcription factor binding in these regions. This will be done through the adaptation and application of previously developed methods, including the variant set enrichment method proposed by Cowper-Sal Lari et al. and the credible set method proposed by Gaulton et al. ChIP-seq data from relevant cell lines will be incorporated to aid in the identification of transcription factors that bind at these sites. Time permitting, chromatin interaction data from promoter-capture Hi-C experiments completed by the group will be used to determine the genes most likely to be influenced by the disease loci.