MEDIGENE project will study genetic and environmental (G x E) determinants of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in recent immigrants in Europe by a novel approach integrating ancestry of Mediterranean populations in epidemiology, locus refining and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). West Mediterranean shores are place of pre-historical termini of population expansion from Southern Europe and North Africa. Archaeogenetic studies in Europe indicated that Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA patterns or Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) revealed a close relationship between genetic and geographic distances able to locate an individual DNA within few hundred kilometres.
The project will use this information in mapping the genetic basis of insulin resistance, cardiovascular and metabolic complications in immigrants (Albanians, Romanians, Turkish, Tunisians, Algerians and Morocco) in host countries France, Spain, Italy and Greece. Ancestry markers and studies on ancient DNA from Roman historical migration in Catalonia will help to give a better picture of the genetic landscape of Europe and North Africa. Genes for MetS will be studied in existing samples from host and home countries by GWAS, locus refining by next-generation sequencing and haplotype mapping. Informative filtered SNPs will be then used in epidemiology and novel DNA samples to reveal G x E interactions and specificities of the pathogenesis of MetS. Genetic findings will be replicated in home countries (Anatolia and North Africa) in the goal to develop markers ethnic specific and significant at a clinical scale.
Major impact is expected from dissemination of our findings to prevent the occurrence of MetS and obesity in children and adolescents or in descendants of modern immigration, understanding variability clinical manifestations of MetS in the context of malnutrition and from the novel approach of GWAS strategies by ameliorating the association signal and bursting R&D activities of SMEs.
Coordinator
Universitè Montpellier I (France)
Other participants
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM-UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
- Dip. di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche-DIMEC
- Resp. Scientifico: Prof. Renato Pasquali
Fondazione Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza (Italy)
Institut Català D'Arqueologia Clàssica (Spain)
Personmed Kft (Hungary)
Universiteti I Tiranes (Albania)
Universitè D'Alger I (Algeria)
Institute Of Biochemistry And Genetics, Ufa Scientific Centre Of Ras (Russia)
Universitatea De Medicina Si Farmacie'Carol Davila' Din Bucuresti (Romania)
Istanbul University (Turkey)
Panepistimio Ioanninon (Greece)
Centro De Investigacion Biomedica En Red De Diabetes Y Enfermedades Metabolicas (Spain)
Universitè Lyon 1 Claude Bernard (France)
Institut Pasteur Du Maroc (Morocco)
Università Degli Studi Di Roma Tor Vergata (Italy)
Institut Pasteur De Tunis (Tunisia)
Biocomputing Platforms Ltd Oy (Finland)
Università Degli Studi Magna Graecia Di Catanzaro (Italy)
Start date 01/01/2012
End date 31/12/2015
Duration 48 months
Project Reference 279171
Project cost 4.320.349,80 EURO
Project Funding 2.996.907 EURO
Area FP7- COOPERATION - HEALTH
Subprogramme Area HEALTH.2011.2.4.3-4: Genetic and environmental factors in obesity and/or diabetes in specific populations
Contract type Collaborative project. Small or medium-scale focused research project for specific cooperation actions dedicated to international cooperation partner countries (SICA)