A platform for the remote conduct of gene-environment interaction studies.
BACKGROUND
Gene-environment interaction studies offer the prospect of robust causal inference through both gene identification and instrumental variable approaches. As such they are a major and much needed development. However, conducting these studies using traditional methods, which require direct participant contact, is resource intensive. The ability to conduct gene-environment interaction studies remotely would reduce costs and increase capacity.


OBJECTIVE
To develop a platform for the remote conduct of gene-environment interaction studies.


METHODS
A random sample of 15,000 men and women aged 50+ years and living in Cardiff, South Wales, of whom 6,012 were estimated to have internet connectivity, were mailed inviting them to visit a web-site to join a study of successful ageing. Online consent was obtained for questionnaire completion, cognitive testing, re-contact, record linkage and genotyping. Cognitive testing was conducted using the Cardiff Cognitive Battery. Bio-sampling was randomised to blood spot, buccal cell or no request.


RESULTS
A heterogeneous sample of 663 (4.5% of mailed sample and 11% of internet connected sample) men and women (47% female) aged 50-87 years (median=61 yrs) from diverse backgrounds (representing the full range of deprivation scores) was recruited. Bio-samples were donated by 70% of those agreeing to do so. Self report questionnaires and cognitive tests showed comparable distributions to those collected using face-to-face methods. Record linkage was achieved for 99.9% of participants.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has demonstrated that remote methods are suitable for the conduct of gene-environment interaction studies. Up-scaling these methods provides the opportunity to increase capacity for large-scale gene-environment interaction studies.
Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom. Gallacher@cf.ac.uk
John
J
Gallacher
Rory
R
Collins
Paul
P
Elliott
Stephen
S
Palmer
Paul
P
Burton
Clive
C
Mitchell
Gareth
G
John
Ronan
R
Lyons
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales