Annual Review 2011: Research challenge 1 - Maximising the health benefits of genetics and genomics

We fund a wide array of research into how genes affect health and disease, and work to ensure that this knowledge lead to new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent illness.

As discussed in this year's ‘Annual Review’, the 1000 Genomes Project is expanding to give us an even more thorough map of human genetic variation. Other achievements from the year include the broadcast of a BBC documentary on genetic testing supported by a Trust Broadcast Development Award, the identification of genetic variants linked to multiple sclerosis, new insights into our evolutionary history from researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and £10 million funding for a project to improve the diagnosis of children with developmental disorders.

Further resources

Here are links to information relating to each of this year's 'Annual Review' stories in research challenge 1:

1000 Genomes Project (page 21)

• News: 1000 Genomes Project publishes pilot results
• Sanger Institute press release
• 1000 Genomes website
• 2010 research paper (Nature)
• 2011 research abstract (UK PubMed Central)

Should I Test My Genes? (page 22)

• BBC: Should I Test My Genes?
• Adam Wishart’s website
• Wellcome Trust broadcast media showreel (video)

Multiple multiple sclerosis genes (page 22)

• News: MS research doubles number of genetic variants
• Research abstract (UK PubMed Central)

Out of Africa (page 22)

• News: Genome analysis provides evolutionary insights
• Research abstract (UK PubMed Central)
• Sanger Institute: Dr Richard Durbin

Deciphering developmental disorders (page 23)

• News: New project to unlock genetic changes
• HICF funded projects
• Sanger Institute: Dr Nigel Carter
• DDD website

Image: Artwork combining genome sequence data and Leonardo da Vinci's 'Vitruvian Man'. Credit: Pasieka/SPL