Significance and Objectives
Complex human disorders are disorders that involve multiple genetic and environmental components. They generally occur later in terms of age of onset, than the more well-known single gene disorders, such as Cystic Fibrosis or Muscular Dystrophy, and are much more prevalent. Examples include hypertension, which occurs in 20% of Australian adults, migraine affecting about 12% of our population and various types of cancer, including breast cancer which affects 1 in 11 Australian women. Understanding the genetic basis of complex human disorders would have a significant impact on their diagnosis, treatment and prevention and thus the quality of life of sufferers of these disorders. The development of diagnostic profiling could greatly aid in tailoring the appropriate treatment to the detected gene problem and in combination with early detection and lifestyle counselling, the results of this research could have the capacity to prevent or retard the development of some complex genetic conditions. In addition, there is currently an absence of diagnostic tests for many common genetic disorders, such as typical migraine and MS. The research undertaken at GRC has the promise of providing reliable diagnostics for these and other disorders currently under study. With the development of such diagnostic tests the GRC is well poised to undertake further progress in the developing fields of genetic risk profiling, pharmacogenomics and gene therapies.

Infrastructure – The GRC has created a suite of core laboratory facilities which enhance the research capacity of scientists including: a microarray facility for gene expression scanning and gridding of genes for expression profiling; PCR equipment for gene analysis and real-time gene quantitation; a DNA sequencing and genotyping facility; facilities for DNA and tissue collections and ascertainment of phenotypic information; facilities/staff qualified to undertake clinical trials.

Expertise and Synergies
The GRC has been undertaking research at Griffith University since 1997 primarily within the School of Health Science. This Centre proposal seeks to combine expertise from other research areas within and outside the University in order to establish synergies between research groups that adds value to all aspects of the investigation and ultimate treatment of common genetic disorders.
As a consequence the Centre has the following expertise:
* Disease gene mapping and identification (Griffiths, Morrison, Lea, MacMillan).
* Neurogenetics, particularly migraine and multiple sclerosis (Griffiths, Lea, MacMillan)
* Cancer genetics (Morrison, Maguire, Griffiths, Haupt, Pemble, Weinstein, Thynne)
* Hypertension, renal and cardiovascular genetics (Griffiths, Lee, Moses, Kay, Parnham)
* Immunogenetics and vaccine development (Ralph, Lee, McDonnell )
* Gene expression-dysfunction analysis (Ralph, Morrison, Griffiths, Maguire, Haupt, Pemble)
* Bioinformatics and biostatistics (Morrison, Lea, Griffiths, Haupt, Ralph)
* Genetic diagnosis, genetic counselling and gene ethics ( Kromberg, MacMillan, Griffiths)
* Skin cancer and mitochondrial genetics (Maguire, Haupt, Griffiths)
* Clinical research expertise (Kromberg, Weinstein, Thynne, MacMillan, Moses, Kay, Parnham)