$26.7 Million, 3 more years down genetics rathole.

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autism genome project

$26.7 Million, 3 more years down genetics rathole.

Canadian team launches second phase of international

http://www.labcanada.com/issues/ISArticle.asp?id=65620 & issue=02192007

Toronto, ON - Fresh from their latest discovery and supported by $26.7

million in public and private funding, Canadian and international

scientists have launched the second phase of a global scientific

effort to map the genes responsible for causing autism.

The first phase of the multi-million dollar Autism Genome Project

achieved its goal of assembling the largest biobank in the world and

conducting the most comprehensive genome scan in autism genetics,

aimed at finding susceptibility genes. This research was performed by

137 scientists from more than 50 institutions representing 8 countries

who formed a first-of-its-kind autism genetics consortium, the Autism

Genome Project (AGP). Results from phase 1 were published this week in

the distinguished scientific journal Nature Genetics.

Building on this success, the coalition of researchers, including a

Canadian team led by Dr Scherer of the Hospital for Sick

Children and Dr Szatmari of the Offord Centre for Child Studies,

will now apply gene-chip technologies to scan the genome for

association with new genetic markers, as well as sub-microscopic copy

number variations (CNVs) along chromosomes in autism.

These findings will guide high-throughput DNA sequencing experiments

designed to pinpoint underlying changes in DNA sequences in autism

susceptibility genes. The unprecedented statistical power generated by

the AGP will ultimately allow researchers to confirm the role of these

genes in autism spectrum disorders.

" In essence, we will be looking at the genes to see if there is any

abnormality that might cause this complex developmental disorder, "

says Dr Szatmari. " We also want to know if the genes interact to

create a combined effect that is more powerful than each alone, or

whether they operate only in certain subgroups of children, such as

females, those who are higher functioning, or those who have Asperger

Syndrome. "

" The availability of the Centre for Applied Genomics, a provincially

and nationally supported genomics infrastructure, will allow us to

scan the genomes at the highest resolution, for both samples from

Canada and around the world, making the Canadian contribution central

to the AGP's success, " says Dr Scherer.

A total of $26.7 million over the next three years is being provided

by public and private partners, including Genome Canada/Ontario

Genomics Institute and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Other funding partners include Autism Speaks, the British Medical

Research Council (MRC), the Health Research Board of Ireland (HRB),

Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), the Hilibrand

Foundation, the McLaughlin Centre for Molecular Medicine, IBM, the

and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, and SickKids Foundation.

This combination of international, public and private partners funding

a consortium of clinicians and scientists is a first in the field of

autism research.

" The Autism Genome Project is an important example of Canadian

researchers working with their colleagues around the world to address

an important challenge in human health. This research will yield a

better understanding of autism, lead to earlier diagnosis, and more

effective interventions for children and their families affected by

autism, " says Dr Alan Bernstein, president of the Canadian Institutes

of Health Research (CIHR).

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Anyone know how much money is spent researching the genetic causes of

obesity? polio?

Lenny