George Nicholson
Dr George Nicholson
Postdoctoral researcher
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Biographical Sketch
I am a postdoctoral researcher on the data analysis team for the MolPAGE project (see below). I studied for a doctorate in the field of population genetics while at Worcester College, Oxford (where I was also an undergraduate student of Mathematics).
Research interest
Analysis methods for spectral (e.g. NMR, mass spec) and array-measured (e.g. microarray) data; variance components modelling; methods for cross-platform data integration.
About my research
The MolPAGE (Molecular Phenotyping to Accelerate Genomic Epidemiology) consortium comprises 18 leading academic institutions, participating in an Oxford University-led, EU-funded project to study type II (late onset) diabetes at the molecular level. The project's main aim is to find biomarkers (biochemical indicators, such as genes, proteins and other molecules) that are useful for identifying individuals likely to suffer from diabetes in the future, long before conventional diagnostic techniques can prove effective. Early diagnosis or identification of those at risk will lead to better treatment of those affected, and to more effective prevention programmes.
Our role in MolPAGE is to analyse data sets produced from a wide variety of molecular phenotyping platforms (e.g. Affymetrix gene expression arrays, metabonomic NMR data, proteomic mass spectrometry data). Our statistical remit can, broadly speaking, be split in two. Our first goal is to characterise variation in data on a platform-specific level. Understanding the sources of variability (e.g. genetic, biological, environmental and experimental) inherent in the measurement of a molecular phenotype is a key step in assessing the potential for stable, informative biomarkers. Our second aim is that of biomarker discovery itself. Analysis of data from samples drawn from large cohort studies will allow the comparison of molecular profiles of individuals that are discordant for diabetes-related clinical traits. We aim to discover molecular signatures that are informative for diabetes diagnosis and prognosis. Cross-platform data integration will feature prominently in the search for powerful and stable biomarkers.
Selected publications
Publications arising from my thesis (MolPAGE-related publications to follow):
▪ Helgason, A., Nicholson, G., Stefánsson, K. and Donnelly, P. (2003) A Reassessment of Genetic Diversity in Icelanders: Strong Evidence from Multiple Loci for Relative Homogeneity Caused by Genetic Drift. Annals of Human Genetics, 67, 281-297.
▪ Nicholson, G., Smith, A.V., Jónsson, F., Gústafsson, O, Stefánsson, K and Donnelly, P. (2002) Assessing population differentiation and isolation from single nucleotide polymorphism data. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B (with discussion), 64, 695-715.
▪ Gonser, R., Donnelly, P., Nicholson, G. and Di Rienzo, A. (2000) Microsatellite mutations and inferences about human demography. Genetics, 154, 1793-1807
MolPAGE Research group
Mathematical genetics and bioinformatics group
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