The Oxford Brain Imaging Genetics (BIG) Browser is part of a collaboration between the research groups of Prof Jonathan Marchini and Prof Steve Smith at fMRIB in Oxford. This collaboration aims to uncover the genetic basis of human brain imaging measures using the UK Biobank project. It is expected that this research will help uncover the genetic influences of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia and Depression. The UK Biobank is following the health and well-being of 500,000 volunteer participants. So far the project has collected genetic data on all 500,000 participants and is in the process of collecting brain imaging data on 100,000 participants, with brain imaging data on ~10,000 participants. Both Prof Marchini’s and Prof Smith's groups have been centrally involved in the processing and analysis of genetic data and imaging data respectively. Combining the genetic and imaging data is complex and is made much easier by pooling expertise across the two groups. In the course of their research they have uncovered several hundred loci (positions) in the human genome associated with structural and functional measures of the human brain. They have posted a paper on bioRxiv on the imaging genetic work and a paper on the analysis of the genetic data. The Oxford BIG Browser hosts the results from the imaging genetics paper and allows researchers to quickly and clearly visualize and explore the results. They have made this data available ahead of publication to best facilitate the research of other groups in this area.
What does a statistician do for the England football team?
From squad selection to modelling how footballs behave at altitude, statistician Matt Penn explains how data is helping shape the modern game, and why coaches will always matter more than the numbers.
New evidence suggests vast hidden magma systems inside Mars
Researchers from the Departments of Earth Science and Statistics have found evidence that Mars once hosted enormous, Earth-like magmatic systems deep below its surface – even though the planet lacks the plate tectonics long considered essential for this kind of geological complexity. The findings open up new possibilities for how rocky planets become habitable.
Finding a needle in the genomic haystack: Targeting rare genes using statistical outliers
In statistical modelling, extreme outliers are often written off as 'noise'. But a new study by researchers from Oxford's Department of Statistics and Big Data Institute published this week in The American Journal of Human Genetics reverses that principle, using these outliers as the basis of a targeting system for locating rare, high-impact genetic mutations.