Grandchildren of island Scots sought for genetic study that aims to improve medical treatments

By Medicine Hat News on February 26, 2020.

People who have grandparents who were born in the Orkney or Shetland islands in Scotland are being asked to join a genetic study aimed at improving medical treatments.

The University of Edinburgh is conducting the study, and says there are many people with a connection to the Northern Isles now living in Canada.

About 4,000 people will participate in the study to gain a better understanding of the causes for conditions such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer and others.

The unique genetic identity of those with Northern Isles ancestry is a rare opportunity to give a detailed picture of how genes are implicated in health.

The people selected to participate in this study – which is called VIKING II – will be required to complete an online questionnaire about their health and lifestyle. Through the mail they will need to provide a saliva sample that will be analyzed by researchers including genetic sequencing.

Lead researcher, professor Jim Wilson, says that “adding 4,000 more volunteers from these special populations will increase the scope and impact of our research into the genetics of health and disease. We hope in the long term, this will bring us a better understanding which is the basis of new approaches to treat or prevent disease.”

The study also involves the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian clinical genetics doctors Professor Zosia Miedzybrodzka and Dr John Dean, who have been holding clinics in Shetland and Orkney for more than 20 years.