The international genome-wide meta-analysis (GWMA) of PBC is ongoing. This is an international collaborative project to undertake genome-wide meta-analysis (GWMA) of the discovery datasets from the Canadian GWAS of PBCItalian GWAS of PBC and UK GWAS of PBC.

The primary aim of the project is to identify additional PBC risk loci. The combined discovery analysis will be followed by efforts to validate newly-identified risk loci by genotyping selected SNPs in replication cohorts recruited from North America, Italy and the UK. Genotyping of replication cohorts will take place at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, UK and the University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital Clinical Genomics Centre in Toronto (CIHR Operating Grant: Molecular Dissection of PBC; principal investigator, Gideon Hirschfield).

It is anticipated that the GWMA of PBC will be completed mid-2013.

For further information about this study, please contact George MellsHeather CordellGideon Hirschfield, or Katherine Siminovitch.