Refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia) are the most widespread human eye disorders. By the year 2020, one third of the world's population-over 2.5 billion people-will be affected by myopia alone. The global economic productivity loss from uncorrected refractive errors has been estimated to be $268 billion. Hence, refractive errors are a significant Public Health problem, especially in regions of East Asia where myopia has reached epidemic proportions. Refractive errors are complex traits, in which both inherited genetic and environmental/behavioral factors are thought to play significant roles. The objective of this project is to study the effects of gene-environment interactions on ocular refraction within the context of whole-genome association studies. The proposed research will make use of 6 large datasets from genomic studies conducted in the United States, Germany, and Singapore.
Our specific aims are to: 1) discover of genetic polymorphisms which interact with environmental factors in gene-environment-wide interaction studies of refractive error; and 2) identify biological pathways or gene-sets through which environmental factors mediate refractive error development in humans. The ultimate goals of the research are to better understand the complex biology of ocular refractive development, and identify specific genes which interact with environmental factors (as measured by proxies of exposure to high visual demand, such as education and reading) in refractive error. The proposed research is part of a K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award. Training in the grant period will focus on developing skills necessary in the design, management, analysis and interpretation of large-scale gene-environment-wide studies. Dr. Wojciechowski's long-term career will be devoted to translating the vast data provided by large genomic studies into clinically useful, comprehensible, and practical information. This information will ultimately benefit scientists, clinicians, Public Health practitioners, policy makers and, most importantly, the public at large.

Public Health Relevance

Refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia) are the most common causes of correctable visual impairment worldwide, and are known to be affected by both the visual environment and inherited genetic factors. This project aims to study the effects of gene-environment interactions on refractive errors on a genome wide level. This research will offer a benefit to the public health by: providing a better understanding of the complex biology of refractive errors; explaining the large differences in the prevalence of myopia among populations; and identifying potential targets amenable to intervention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08EY022943-03
Application #
8786557
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZEY1-VSN (06))
Program Officer
Agarwal, Neeraj
Project Start
2013-01-01
Project End
2017-12-31
Budget Start
2015-01-01
Budget End
2015-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$145,276
Indirect Cost
$10,761
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
Wojciechowski, Robert; Cheng, Ching-Yu (2018) INVOLVEMENT OF MULTIPLE MOLECULAR PATHWAYS IN THE GENETICS OF OCULAR REFRACTION AND MYOPIA. Retina 38:91-101
Springelkamp, Henriët; Iglesias, Adriana I; Mishra, Aniket et al. (2017) New insights into the genetics of primary open-angle glaucoma based on meta-analyses of intraocular pressure and optic disc characteristics. Hum Mol Genet 26:438-453
Fan, Qiao; Guo, Xiaobo; Tideman, J Willem L et al. (2016) Childhood gene-environment interactions and age-dependent effects of genetic variants associated with refractive error and myopia: The CREAM Consortium. Sci Rep 6:25853
Cuellar-Partida, Gabriel; Lu, Yi; Kho, Pik Fang et al. (2016) Assessing the Genetic Predisposition of Education on Myopia: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Genet Epidemiol 40:66-72
Fan, Qiao; Verhoeven, Virginie J M; Wojciechowski, Robert et al. (2016) Meta-analysis of gene-environment-wide association scans accounting for education level identifies additional loci for refractive error. Nat Commun 7:11008
Tkatchenko, Andrei V; Tkatchenko, Tatiana V; Guggenheim, Jeremy A et al. (2015) APLP2 Regulates Refractive Error and Myopia Development in Mice and Humans. PLoS Genet 11:e1005432
Li, Qing; Wojciechowski, Robert; Simpson, Claire L et al. (2015) Genome-wide association study for refractive astigmatism reveals genetic co-determination with spherical equivalent refractive error: the CREAM consortium. Hum Genet 134:131-46
Kavitha, Srinivasan; Zebardast, Nazlee; Palaniswamy, Krishnamurthy et al. (2014) Family history is a strong risk factor for prevalent angle closure in a South Indian population. Ophthalmology 121:2091-7
Simpson, Claire L; Wojciechowski, Robert; Oexle, Konrad et al. (2014) Genome-wide meta-analysis of myopia and hyperopia provides evidence for replication of 11 loci. PLoS One 9:e107110
Hysi, Pirro G; Cheng, Ching-Yu; Springelkamp, Henriët et al. (2014) Genome-wide analysis of multi-ancestry cohorts identifies new loci influencing intraocular pressure and susceptibility to glaucoma. Nat Genet 46:1126-1130

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