February 2005

in this issue

Dundee to lead genetic health initiative

The University is to play a key role in a new, ground-breaking genetic health project. Bringing together Scotland's five medical schools, the project will assess genetic predisposition to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis and mental health, and is being funded by the Scottish Executive to the tune of £4.4 million.

The Genetic Health Initiative (GHI) will focus on individuals and their close relatives in order to assess the genetic predisposition to these common diseases that affect thousands of people in Scotland. It will draw on comprehensive healthcare records, but add a genetic dimension to determine to what extent ill health is an inherited trait and how other factors, such as lifestyle, are influential.

The programme will link anonymous information on the lifestyle and healthcare history of participants with their genetic profile, allowing the team to identify those most at risk of developing disease and create preventative healthcare strategies.

Professor Andrew Morris, Chair of Diabetic Medicine at the University and Principal Investigator of the GHI Initiative said, "The Scotland-wide research team represents a unique collaboration not only between universities and the NHS in Scotland, but also between world class scientists and clinical researchers. It is a great opportunity for us to define and target key factors that underpin many of the major diseases that affect the people of Scotland and ensure they receive the medications that have the greatest chance of treatment success with the lowest chance of any unwanted effects".

Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, said, "I am delighted that we have been able to support this vital project. In addition to the huge potential health benefits, the project provides real potential to assist our broader economic development objectives, and we will be looking to capitalise on these commercial opportunities as the project develops."

Scotland has a number of key factors that will allow this research to be successful: a universal NHS number which lets researchers cross reference patients' health data; the latest in information technology that can link health records including details of prescriptions and if the patients took the drug properly; and software that will ensure that a patient can never be identified no matter how often their healthcare record is used by researchers.

Professor Roland Wolf, Director of the Biomedical Research Centre said, "The Scottish Executive support for this project will allow a unique programme of work to be carried out aimed at understanding the factors that determine individual responses to drugs. Its visionary support for this programme could result in major benefits for the health of the Scottish population."

The Scottish project embraces all the Scottish medical schools, the National e-Science Centre, the Scottish School of Primary Care and Information Services, NHS National Services Scotland.

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2005 honorary degrees
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