Ivo Gut has contributed to a Review published in Nature Methods that aims to establish guidelines for conducting epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS).

The CNAG, as partner in the BLUEPRINT Project (a BLUEPRINT of Hematopoietic Epigenomes), is gaining wider expertise in unveiling the role of epigenetic variation in health and disease. Epigenomic studies are increasingly being used by researchers that have learned that changes in the epigenome may cause or contribute to many diseases, making epigenomics a vital part of efforts to better understand the human body and improve human health.

However, good practices and accepted standards for conducting EWAS are only starting to emerge. This paper reviews concepts for performing stringent and powerful EWAS providing guidelines for an appropriate study design, a detailed a priori analysis plan, the development of the study itself and the analysis and interpretation of the results.

Work of reference:

Recommendations for the design and analysis of epigenome-wide association studies