# Statistical methods to localize disease heritability and identify biological mechanisms

> **NIH NIH R37** · BROAD INSTITUTE, INC. · 2020 · $226,177

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
An estimate of genetic ancestry is typically included as a control in a genetic association test. This
estimate of ancestry dovetails closely with conceptualization of human populations in genetic
analysis. Other fields have different ways and different motivations for grouping individuals into
populations, such as the OMB categories for race. From a social science point of view the stakes
are high; they fear that the way statistical geneticists are starting to use the concept of ancestry
will end up reifying race as a biological category. This project aims first to describe, using a
schema that we will develop, how the population concept is used across different disciplines
relevant to the study of genetic associations. This will help identify points of tension. We will
attempt to resolve these through a normative project that refines this schema by identifying how
the terms should be used. This will be an interdisciplinary endeavor resulting in guidelines for use
of the population and ancestry concepts across these disciplines.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10136834
- **Project number:** 3R37MH107649-06S1
- **Recipient organization:** BROAD INSTITUTE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Anna Lewis
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $226,177
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2015-07-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10136834

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10136834, Statistical methods to localize disease heritability and identify biological mechanisms (3R37MH107649-06S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10136834. Licensed CC0.

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