Emerging Statistical Challenges and Methods For Analysis of Massive Genomic Data in Complex Human Disease Studies (14w5011)

The Banff International Research Station will host the "Emerging Statistical Challenges and Methods For Analysis of Massive Genomic Data in Complex Human Disease Studies" workshop from June 22nd to June 27th, 2014.

Many complex human diseases, such as autism and type 2 diabetes, originate in part from the complicated effects of multiple genetic variants found throughout the human genome. Given the enormous impact of such diseases on public health, it is imperative to map relevant genetic variants to improve our understanding of the molecular basis of these diseases, as well as improve screening techniques for disease prevention. To this end, successful human gene mapping of complex traits requires the development and application of powerful statistical methods that fully utilize existing resources such as the Human Genome Project as well as cutting-edge resources like next-generation sequencing technology. This workshop will focus on methods to address emerging challenges in the analysis of such data. Topics covered include the analysis of rare variation, testing of gene-gene/gene-environment interactions, integrative genomics, and risk-prediction modeling. This workshop will bring together international experts in this important field of research to advance our understanding of the methods and tools which can be effectively applied to address common issues that arise in the analysis of large-scale genetic and genomic data.

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).