| Title: | Why do some individuals have omics profiles that deviate towards the typical omics profiles of the opposite biological sex? |
| Lead Institution: | University of Helsinki |
| Principal investigator: |
Application 170315
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About
A common practice in healthcare is to factor in an individual's genetic (or biological) sex when estimating their disease risk. However, there is a lot of variation in disease risk and prevalence within sex with many individuals developing diseases and conditions that are more common in the opposite sex. In this study, we aim to better understand why this happens. We aim to figure out why some people may have health characteristics that are more similar to the opposite sex. By understanding this, we hope to improve our ability to predict and prevent diseases for different individuals. More accurate prediction of disease risk can lead to more efficient use of healthcare resources and improved health outcomes, for example better allocation of screening resources and more timely interventions. The first goal of the study is to find out what are the typical biological profiles for males and females in terms of a variety of health markers. These health markers include for example the amount of different proteins in an individual's blood sample. We will look at various data layers related to health and use machine learning methods to create typical profiles for both males and females. The second goal is to identify people who deviate from this generated profile for their sex and understand why that is. We will check if being different from the usual health marker profile is linked to other traits. As part of this, we will consider traits like the environment, hormone levels, and genetic make-up to understand why these individuals differ from their biological sex in terms of health. Studying health marker profiles that deviate from the profiles that are typical for a given sex can help us identify for example proteins that are linked to these differences. This in turn can help researchers understand the mechanistic reasons why sex differences arise in disease, and help in coming up with better and more equal treatment for everyone. The study will also look at the role of genetic variations in determining these health marker profiles. By understanding how genes are related to these differences, we hope to learn more about the genetic factors that contribute to health variations both between and within men and women. The overall goal is to improve how we estimate disease risk for individuals, leading to more personalized and effective health strategies for everyone. The duration of this study is 36 months.1 Publication
| Pub ID | Title | Author(s) | Year | Journal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19178 | Selected miRNAs in Urinary Extracellular Vesicles Show Promise for Early and Specific Diagnostics of Diabetic Kidney Disease | Karina Barreiro (+14) | 2025 | Journal of Extracellular Biology |
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