Using FBAT and PBAT to Analyze Family-Based Association Studies
in Genetics
2 Short Courses in FBAT/PBAT in Boston and Boulder
Course Date and Location Course Organizers and Faculty Topics Description Intended Audience Application, Registration, and Fees
June 2-3, 2008 at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston MA.
Application Deadline: May 7, 2008.
January 8-9, 2009 at the University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Application Deadline: Dec 1, 2008.
Course Organizers and Faculty:
Nan Laird, Christoph Lange: Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health
Matt McQueen: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Family-based association test (FBATs)
Multi-marker, haplotype tests
Analysis of complex phenotypes: repeated-measurements, time-to-onset data, mulitvariate phenotypes
Testing strategies and genome-wide association analysis
CNV analysis in family-based studies
Integrative Genomics in family-based association studies
Power and design considerations for family-based association studies
The increasing availability of genetic marker data, especially SNP's, has made investigations of genetic associations between marker data and disease commonplace. This course will focus on family based designs for association studies; these designs use information on affected individuals and their relatives, most commonly parents and/or siblings. Family based designs are attractive in that they test for both association and linkage thus avoiding difficulties with population stratification and admixture. In addition, the population information in the data can be used for model building and screening. This course will give a very brief introduction to the basic concepts of genetic association in general, and family based designs in particular. The focus of the course is on the FBAT/PBAT methodology and how to use the packages. An overview of the topics discussed can be found in Laird NM and Lange C "Family Based Designs in the Age of Large-Scale Gene-Association Studies", Nature Reviews/Genetics, 2006, 7:385-394.
The orientation of the course is practical rather than theoretical. It combines lectures and computer tutorials with hands on data analysis using the FBAT and PBAT packages. Both packages can be accessed from the FBAT/PBAT web pages http://www.biostat.harvard.edu/~clange/default.htm and http://www.biostat.harvard.edu/~fbat/default.html. P2BAT is available through the R-package that can be downloaded at http://www.r-project.org. The GoldenHelix PBAT version will be posted on the course web-page 2 weeks before to the course. A special website will be created for the course so that all course materials will be available there. Note: Both GoldenHelix PBAT and P2BAT will be taught in this course.
Intended
audience:
This course is intended for clinicians, epidemiologists, data
analysts, geneticists, and statisticians involved in the analysis of
genetic data. Familiarity with genetic concepts as well as
background in basic statistics at the level of linear/logistic
regression is highly desirable. Participants are encouraged to bring
their own data sets; check the FBAT web page for details on file
format. We also strongly recommend that participants read the
manuals before attending the course.
Application,
Registration and Fees.
The course fee is $500.00; this covers course materials, coffee
breaks, two lunches, and a reception. Applicants will be accepted on a first come
first serve basis; the course is limited to 45 participants. Post-doctoral students may obtain a reduced fee of $250, and full
time doctoral students may obtain a reduced fee of $150 with a letter
certifying student status from your institution. For the Boston Short Course, please fill out
the registration form and please see for how to pay. For the Boulder Short Course, see the Boulder Short Course webpage.