Launched in October 2023, the Genetic Epidemiology Research Alliance is a Centre of Research Excellence funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
GERA is the first research centre of its kind nationally, bringing together expertise from 15 institutes around Australia and the world, and based at the University of Melbourne.
Our experts come from diverse fields including epidemiology, genetics, genetic epidemiology, population health, biostatistics, data science, artificial intelligence, precision medicine, biology, risk prediction and modelling, biobanking, health economics and health translation.
GERA is led by Dr Shuai Li, an NHMRC Emerging Leadership and Senior Research Fellow at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.
Why study genetic epidemiology?
Genetic epidemiology research investigates how genetic factors contribute to health and disease in families and populations, and how genes interplay with lifestyle and environmental factors. Genes alone can cause some diseases, however, for many complex diseases both genes and environmental factors contribute to risk.
In particular, genetic epidemiology is a powerful tool in driving advances in ‘precision population health’. This involves bringing together available large-scale data and technological advancements to create more effective, personalised, and equitable health interventions.
What we do?
Our mission is to embed the application of genetic epidemiology into population health research. We’ll show how advanced epidemiological methods can strengthen research outcomes and provide tailored health approaches.
Find out more about our research aims and impact here