Genetics

This blog post explores a large UK-based genetic study that examines susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in individuals of South Asian and African ancestry, addressing a critical gap in traditionally European-focused genomic research. By integrating genome-wide association analyses, detailed HLA fine-mapping, and polygenic risk scoring, the study demonstrates substantial cross-ancestry concordance in MS genetic risk while highlighting important differences in allele frequencies and predictive performance. Together, these findings underscore the necessity of ancestrally diverse cohorts to advance equitable genetic discovery, refine disease mechanisms, and improve the clinical relevance of genetic risk prediction for multiple sclerosis.