Traveller Genes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Traveller Genes - A research study to understand the genetics, origins and relationships of Travellers from the UK and Ireland
IRAS ID
300509
Contact name
James F Wilson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Not available until approval and launch, Publication of the protocol in an open access journal is anticipated.; researchregistry6955, Research Registry DB www.researchregistry.com
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The “Traveller Genes” study seeks to recruit 200-400 adult volunteer participants for the study of the genetics of Scottish and other Travellers. While some genetic studies have been carried out, these (formerly) nomadic and socially isolated groups are understudied, and the Scottish Travellers in particular have had no genetic studies. Recruitment will take place online, followed by completion of a short questionnaire and postal saliva samples for DNA. Follow up will occur through linkage to routine NHS data in the electronic health record. Once recruitment is complete, the research team will use population genetic approaches to study the origins of the Travellers, the relationships among different groups of Travellers such as Irish and Scottish Travellers or English Gypsies, as well as subgroups such as Highland Scottish Travellers and Romanichal or Romany Travellers, and how they relate to “settled” Scottish and neighbouring populations. The data will also help understand overall patterns of health and disease among the Travellers. Geographically or socially isolated communities can have distinct gene pools from the general urban population, particularly for rarer genetic variants. It will thus be important to understand if the Travellers are genetically distinct and if so, whether any important genetic variants are at higher frequencies. This may in turn also provide benefits in the future from advances in genomic medicine.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/1229
Date of REC Opinion
8 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion