Many genes exist in different variants. Sometimes, some of the variants have a negative effect, in particular if they are combined with certain other gene variants or a certain lifestyle. Marju Orho-Melander studies these issues in research that has now landed her the ‘local’ Fernström prize.
Generous research foundation
The Fernström Foundation, established by shipowner Eric K. Fernström from Karlshamn, is based at the Faculty of Medicine at Lund University. The Foundation awards an annual Nordic prize of SEK 1 000 000 and local prizes of SEK 100 000 each to promising young researchers at Sweden’s six university medical faculties.
Articles in respected journals
Marju Orho-Melander’s research results have been published in a number of leading journals in recent years. In 2008 and 2009, Nature Genetics published the research group’s findings of new gene variants that regulate the concentration of blood lipids and lipoproteins. In 2008 her article in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that nine risk genes were better predictors of the risk of cardiovascular disease than the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Extensive international collaboration
Professor Orho-Melander’s group has also participated in two international collaborations, the results of which were recently published in Nature. One of the articles describes for the first time a complicated process by which a gene variant causes a larger amount of the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol particles to enter the bloodstream. The second article describes 95 gene variants associated with blood lipid and lipoprotein levels that were included in a large study involving 100 000 individuals.
The importance of the lifestyle
However, having an increased genetic risk does not necessarily mean that a person will become ill.
"Lifestyle is also very important. Certain gene variants can, for example, contribute to obesity, harmful levels of blood lipids or type 2 diabetes in individuals with a certain diet, but do not increase the risk at all for those who eat different foods or who are physically active", says Marju Orho-Melander.
Large population studies
Marju Orho-Melander is now working on a study based on the large ‘Malmö Diet and Cancer’ population survey. The research group will look at a large number of genes linked to abnormal blood lipid levels, cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes, to investigate the contribution of these genes for the Malmö residents in the study.
"It’s incredibly exciting – partly because we are working with unique material and partly because we have finally started to learn a lot about which genes and mechanisms are significant for these common diseases", says Marju Orho-Melander.
Commercial gene tests too expensive and deficient
Dr Orho-Melander does not think that at present people should take a commercial gene test to find out about possible genetic risks for common diseases.
"The tests are still too expensive and do not include all the genes needed for the results to be interpreted correctly. However, in the future I hope that we will gain enough knowledge to develop genetic tests that are useful to both patients and doctors", she says.
Contact:
Marju Orho-Melander can be contacted by telephone, +46 (0)40 39 12 10 or +46 (0)70 739 82 89 or by e-mail, Marju [dot] Orho-Melander [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (Marju[dot]Orho-Melander[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se).
Picture: http://www.med.lu.se/plain/content/download/49221/317716/file/marju.jpg
Text: Ingela Björck