Whole-genome sequencing data to amplify cerebral palsy research
September 23, 2024
Data collected through a groundbreaking Canadian-led study that uncovered genetic causes of cerebral palsy are now available on Brain-CODE, the Ontario Brain Institute's neuroanalytics and informatics platform.
Cerebral palsy (CP), a condition that affects the development of motor skills in children, is the most common childhood-onset physical disability. CP can have different causes, such as infections, being born prematurely, or lack of oxygen before or during birth, but the genetic contributors to CP have remained largely unknown.
Recent research from the multi-site project, which included scientists affiliated with OBI's Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network (CP-NET), provides a more detailed look into the genetic causes of the condition. The findings, published in Nature Genetics, suggest the existence of many genetic variants contributing to CP, which may inform future diagnosis and treatment.
These are the first whole-genome sequencing data to be made available on Brain-CODE in an effort to improve access to genome sequencing data for scientists around the world.