Welcome to the Genetic Epidemiology Network
The Genetic Epidemiology Network (GeEpNet) is a multidisciplinary research and
education network in the field of Genetic Epidemiology formed in 2003 within the
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Genetic Epidemiology is an emerging field
in Medical research with increasing interest especially after the completion of
the Human Genome project. Genetic epidemiological research focuses on
complex
diseases and addresses the relationship between genetic factors and risk of disease,
in particular in relation to gene-gene and gene-environment interactions.
Research is organized in three main settings. In the first setting
population-based
studies are performed. Main focus of the first research setting will be to define
disease
phenotypes to develop phenotyping protocols and to classify patients in
the different phenotypes of a disease. The GeEpNet includes research in the frame
of the
Thessaloniki Eye Study, which is a large population-based study of glaucoma
and age-related macular degeneration.
Family studies are included in the population-based
Thessaloniki Eye Study.
In the second setting research aims to identify new
genetic factors involved in
complex diseases using family as well as population-based approaches. Studies
using linkage and sibpair analysis are to be planned and will include neurological
diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hematologic disorders, cancer, ophthalmic diseases
and metabolic diseases.
The second setting also includes development and application of molecular methods for
genetic and epigenetic analysis in the frame of the population based studies mentioned
above. According to the subject of each population-based study, specific markers
for the investigation of disease-related loci (
polymorphisms and
genes ) are going
to be selected for
genotyping .
In the third setting, genotyping results will be compared with disease phenotypes
and submitted to linkage analysis (sibpairs within families), in order to reveal
possible associations between the two sets of parameters. Identified genotypes
strongly associated with disease will be further investigated in the functional
setting.
The multidisciplinary approach in genetic epidemiology research includes molecular
biologists and molecular approaches in Genetics for Clinicians and Epidemiologists.
Contact points:
Research Laboratory in Ophthalmology:
Fotis Topouzis, MD
Phone: (+30)2310994920, (+30)2310994913
email:odrlab@med.auth.gr
