Debashree Ray, Johns Hopkins
Talk Title: “Using Meta-Analysis Summary Statistics to Identify Genetic Overlap between Diseases”
Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss a new statistical approach, PLACO, for detecting genetic overlap or common genetic basis of two traits by considering an underlying composite null hypothesis that a genetic variant is associated with none or only one of the traits. I will show PLACO requires only summary-level data as used in meta-analysis, can maintain type I error at stringent levels used in genetic studies, and can achieve major power gain over alternative methods typically used in the literature. PLACO allows correlation in summary statistics between studies that may arise due to sharing of controls between disease traits. Finally, I will show applications to type 2 diabetes, and to orofacial clefts.