Abstract

In 2007 the IMSGC completed a GWAS based on 931 trio families. This study identified two new multiple sclerosis susceptibility genes—IL7R and IL2R. As part of WTCCC2 we are now undertaking a substantially more comprehensive GWAS based on an independent set of 10 000 cases collected through an international collaborative effort involving research groups from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA. These samples have all been genotyped using the Illumina 660w Quad chip and analysis will commence after appropriate quality control filters have been applied. Control data from almost 6000 UK subjects has already been generated as part of WTCCC2 and will be supplemented with control data from published studies from other representative populations. This GWAS is well powered to identify common risk alleles with an odds ratio of 1.2 or more. Replication will be performed in 8000 additional cases. The results from this well powered GWAS will expand the list of established associated loci.