Which genes in people from different ancestral backgrounds might be linked to MS?
- Lead researcher:
- Dr Benjamin Jacobs, Prof. Huw Morris, Dr Ruth Dobson
- Based at:
- Queen Mary University London
- MS Society funding:
- £71,163.50. Total cost: £284,654. This is Clinical Research Training Fellowship co-funded with the Medical Research Council
- Status:
- Active
Dr Ben Jacobs will look at the genes of people with MS from non-European ancestries, so that we can get a better understanding of MS risk factors.
About the project
There’s no single gene that will cause someone to develop MS, but we know that having certain variants in certain genes can make a person more susceptible. So far we’ve discovered over 200 regions in our genetic code that are linked to MS.
Read more about genetics and MS
Most of our understanding about genes that contribute to the risk of MS comes from studies with people of White European descent. These risk genes might not be the same for people from non-European ancestries, and there may be other genes within other ancestries that can give us more information about why some people get MS.
This project will recruit a group of people from ethnic minorities in the UK for genetic analysis. The researchers hope to find out whether the genes that contribute to MS risk are the same or different for people of non-European ancestry, with a focus on people from African and South Asian backgrounds.
How will it help people with MS?
By finding genes that might increase the risk of MS in people from diverse ancestral backgrounds, it will help researchers to better understand the condition. It could lead to better treatments, and more personalised care for people with MS, especially those from non-European ancestries.
The difference you can make
Improving our understanding of what causes MS in people from different ancestries will help us move forward towards a better future for everyone with MS.
Take part in the ADAMS study
Over 700 people with MS signed up in the first year of the study. Taking part involves answering a short questionnaire and giving a saliva sample for genetic testing. If you have MS and you identify as non-White, you can take part in the ADAMS study from home or at a participating site.
You can sign up through the UK MS Register or by using the button below.
