Complex Trait Genomics

The Complex Trait Genomics of Diabetes group is a multidisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Exeter Medical School.

Its research has two broad aims:

  • First, to identify the variants in the human genome responsible for common diseases and traits, with a focus on cardiometabolic diseases. These include type 2 diabetes, and its key features, insulin secretion and resistance; obesity; growth (including fetal growth), female reproductive lifespan (including age at menopause) and cancers which are associated with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
  • Second, to use human genetics to help understand the biology of these diseases.

Approaches include Mendelian randomization, functional genomics and bioinformatics, stratified heritability analysis, fine-mapping, recall-by-genotype studies with the help of the Exeter 10,000 research volunteers and the NIHR National BioResource, and the use of genetic scores to help dissect disease heterogeneity.

Name Role
Professor InĂªs Barroso Professor of Diabetes
Professor Tim Frayling Professor of Human Genetics
Associate Professor Mike Weedon Associate Professor of Bioinformatics
Professor Anna Murray Professor in Human Genetics
Professor Caroline Wright  Professor in Genomic Medicine
Associate Professor Mattia Frontini Associate Professor of Cell Biology and BHF Research Fellow
Professor Chrissie Thirwell Mireille Gillings Professor of Cancer Genomics
Dr Andrew Wood  Senrior Lecturer in Computational and Statistical Genetics
Dr Rachel Freathy  Associate Professor and Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow
Dr Nick Owens  Lecturer in Data Science and AI
Dr Hanieh Yaghootkar Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Research Fellow
Dr Jess Tyrell Senior Lecturer
Dr Ji Chen Research Fellow
Dr Gareth Hawkes

Research Fellow

Dr Robin Beaumont

Research Fellow

Dr Francesco Casanova

Research Fellow

Dr Susan Martin

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Dr Kate Ruth

Research Fellow

Brandon Lim

Graduate Research Assistant