Genomics of Brain Diseases [Online]

Genspace NYC

Learn how to perform a genome-wide association study for neurodegenerative diseases, plot data, and explore genetic risk scores.

2-part online class:Saturday, February 26, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm ESTSunday, February 27, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm ESTMany neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease are driven by genetic factors, and while some of these genes are well-known and studied, others are not. But how do geneticists dig through millions of datasets to identify novel genetic contributions for various neurodegenerative diseases? In this two-day workshop, we’ll learn how to use <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Genome-Wide-Association-Studies#:~:text=A%20genome%2Dwide%20association%20study,the%20presence%20of%20a%20disease." target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">genome-wide association studies</a> (GWAS), a type of analysis that scans the genomes of many different people to identify genetic markers that can be used to predict the risk of developing a disease; and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6696910/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">polygenic risk scores</a> (PRS) to uncover the genetic basis of neurodegenerative diseases. You’ll explore the fascinating complexity hidden in our genome with a series of hands-on data explorations using the command line, the statistical programming language R, and a suite of analysis tools including <a href="https://fuma.ctglab.nl/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">FUMA</a>, <a href="http://zzz.bwh.harvard.edu/plink/index.shtml" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">PLINK</a>, and <a href="https://cnsgenomics.com/software/gcta/#Overview" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">GCTA</a>. We’ll start by performing quality control analyses on our dataset to identify whether two individuals are related to each other and the sex of the samples in our dataset. Then, we'll perform a GWAS to identify variations in the genome that contribute to disease etiology for diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Lewy body dementia. We’ll also learn how to display and interpret our results using a Manhattan Plot.You’ll walk away with a basic understanding of GWAS and PRS analyses, their challenges and limitations, and how we can practically apply them to detect individuals at high risk for disease. No previous coding experience necessary!Your registration gets you access to the live Zoom class, along with a recording of the class to view afterwards.ACCESSIBILITY: Genspace is committed to ensuring that our online classes, events, and workshops are as accessible as possible, and can meet the ever-changing needs of our community. As we navigate the opportunities and challenges of online programming, we are constantly learning and adjusting our workflows to prioritize accessibility, and we’d love to hear any feedback our community might have. Please <a href="https://www.genspace.org/contact-us" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">contact us</a> if you have specific accessibility requests or questions.

<h3>Meet the Instructor </h3>Sara Bandres-Ciga, Ph.D. (she/her) is a molecular geneticist whose research interests are primarily focused in understanding how genetic variation affects neurodegenerative diseases. Her career started with a PharmD degree, followed by a Neuroscience M.Sc, and lastly a Ph.D. (Hons) in Genetics from the University of Granada, Spain. In 2017, she joined the Laboratory of Neurogenetics at NIH (USA) as a postdoctoral researcher with the goal of conducting further research in the bioinformatics field, aimed at studying neurological disorders spanning the etiological risk spectrum from monogenic to more complicated sporadic forms. Dr. Bandres-Ciga has been recently awarded with the 2019 NIA Women in Science Excellence in Research Award. She is passionate about inclusivity and democratization in science and has been active in scientific outreach and training.

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Genomics of Brain Diseases [Online]

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Genomics of Brain Diseases [Online]

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