A platform for the remote conduct of gene-environment interaction studies

Journal article

BACKGROUND: Gene-environment interaction studies offer the prospect of robust causal inference through both gene identification and instrumental variable approaches. As such they are a major and much needed development. However, conducting these studies using traditional methods, which require direct participant contact, is resource intensive. The ability to conduct gene-environment interaction studies remotely would reduce costs and increase capacity. AIM: To develop a platform for the remote conduct of gene-environment interaction studies. METHODS: A random sample of 15,000 men and women aged 50+ years and living in Cardiff, South Wales, of whom 6,012 were estimated to have internet connectivity, were mailed inviting them to visit a web-site to join a study of successful ageing. Online consent was obtained for questionnaire completion, cognitive testing, re-contact, record linkage and genotyping. Cognitive testing was conducted using the Cardiff Cognitive Battery. Bio-sampling was randomised to blood spot, buccal cell or no request. RESULTS: A heterogeneous sample of 663 (4.5% of mailed sample and 11% of internet connected sample) men and women (47% female) aged 50-87 years (median=61 yrs) from diverse backgrounds (representing the full range of deprivation scores) was recruited. Bio-samples were donated by 70% of those agreeing to do so. Self report questionnaires and cognitive tests showed comparable distributions to those collected using face-to-face methods. Record linkage was achieved for 99.9% of participants. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that remote methods are suitable for the conduct of gene-environment interaction studies. Up-scaling these methods provides the opportunity to increase capacity for large-scale gene-environment interaction studies.

Authors: Gallacher, J; Collins, R; Elliott, P; Palmer, S; Burton, P

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Journal: PLoS ONE
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 1
• Pages: e54331
• Publication date: 2013-01-18
• Acceptance date: 2012-12-11
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054331
• EISSN: 1932-6203
• Language: English
• Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Humans; Male; Internet; Wales; Female; Gene-Environment Interaction; Memory, Short-Term; Aging; Aged; Cognition; Data Collection; Middle Aged; SBTMR; Blood Specimen Collection; Reproducibility of Results; Intelligence; Questionnaires