posted on 2018-01-26, 10:51authored byLaura J. Corbin, Vanessa Y. Tan, David A. Hughes, Kaitlin H. Wade, Dirk S. Paul, Katherine E. Tansey, Frances Butcher, Frank Dudbridge, Joanna M. Howson, Momodou W. Jallow, Catherine John, Nathalie Kingston, Cecilia M. Lindgren, Michael O’Donavan, Stephen O’Rahilly, Michael J. Owen, Colin N. A. Palmer, Ewan R. Pearson, Robert A. Scott, David A. van Heel, John Whittaker, Tim Frayling, Martin D. Tobin, Louise V. Wain, George Davey Smith, David M. Evans, Fredrik Karpe, Mark I. McCarthy, John Danesh, Paul W. Franks, Nicholas J. Timpson
Detailed phenotyping is required to deepen our understanding of the biological mechanisms
behind genetic associations. In addition, the impact of potentially modifiable risk factors on
disease requires analytical frameworks that allow causal inference. Here, we discuss the
characteristics of Recall by Genotype (RbG) as a study design aimed at addressing both these
needs. We describe two broad scenarios for the application of RbG: studies using single
variants and those using multiple variants. We consider the efficacy and practicality of the
RbG approach, provide a catalogue of UK-based resources for such studies and present an
online RbG study planner.
Funding
This work was supported by the Medical Research Council MC_UU_12013/3 (NJT, LJC,
KHW, DAH) and MC_UU_12013/1 (GDS). NJT is a Wellcome Trust Investigator
(202802/Z/16/Z) and works within the University of Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research
Centre (BRC). NJT and VJT are supported by the CRUK Integrative Cancer Epidemiology
Programme (C18281/A19169). The MRC/BHF Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit is
supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MR/L003120/1), British Heart Foundation
(RG/13/13/30194) and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. DSP is supported by
the BHF Cambridge Centre of Excellence (RE/13/6/30180) and the Wellcome Trust
(105602/Z/14/Z). CML is supported by the Li Ka Shing Foundation and NIHR Oxford
Biomedical Research Centre. Work undertaken by PWF related to this manuscript is
supported by the European Research Council (ERC-2015-CoG-681742-NASCENT) and the
Swedish Research Council (Distinguished Young Researcher Award in Medicine). The
EXCEED study at the University of Leicester has been supported by the Medical Research
Council (G0902313) and received partial support from NIHR; the views expressed are those
of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.
The EXCEED study gratefully acknowledges the support of all participants and staff who
have contributed to the study. LVW holds a GlaxoSmithKline/British Lung Foundation Chair
in Respiratory Research. MDT holds a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award (WT
202849/Z/16/Z). CJ holds a Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training
Fellowship (MR/P00167X/1). MMcC is a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator and an NIHR
Senior Investigator. Research support relevant to this manuscript comes from Wellcome
Trust (090532, 098381, 106130), Medical Research Council (MR/L020149/1) and NIH
(R01DK098032; U01DK105535). The research was supported by the National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) Oxford BRC. The views expressed are those of the author