ANGI on track for 25,000 blood samples to detect Anorexia gene

ANGI on track for 25,000 blood samples to detect Anorexia gene

Roll up, roll up, roll up your sleeve for science! Thousands of people who have experienced

Anorexia Nervosa are doing just this. There is a great feeling of excitement and accomplishment in knowing that with every test tube filled, we each are contributing in a small but vitally important way to understanding and treating this illness!

The response to ANGI over the past year has been truly amazing.  The Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI) is a global effort to identify genes that contribute to eating disorders. The goal of the study is to transform our knowledge about the causes of eating disorders and to work toward greater understanding and ultimately a cure. Researchers in the United States, Sweden, Australia, and Denmark and the UK are collecting clinical information and blood samples from thousands of people with and without an eating disorder. If you have suffered from anorexia nervosa at any point in your life, you can help the ANGI researchers achieve this goal. Your contribution includes a brief 30-minute interview and a blood sample.

In Australia, more  than 1000 participants have completed the online questionnaire since the research was announced in Brisbane eight months ago.  So far, in Australia, more than 600 DNA collection kits have been sent out, and nearly 500 have been returned.  Richard Parker, ANGI’s project coordinator in Australia, and his research team based at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, is preparing to send out more kits during  the next few months.

“We cannot achieve our goals without you,” Richard says.  “The more participants we encourage to participate, the greater the likelihood that we will be able to identify genes that contribute to Anorexia Nervosa.”  Although we are a few years away from having any results, Richard shares these exciting updates:

1. MALES, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES, TOO!

“Firstly, given the positive response, we’re excited to announce that we are now including males in ANGI.  So many men inquired about whether they could participate that we were able to convince the granting organization and our advisers to include men.”

2. CHARLOTTE’S HELIX

Secondly, ANGI has sparked a research initiative in the UK called Charlotte’s Helix.

The UK, together with researchers in Australia, the US, Sweden and Denmark,  aims to collect DNA samples and clinical information on 25,000 people who experienced Anorexia Nervosa at any point in their life by the end of 2015! Let’s make it happen!

If you have never had Anorexia Nervosa, but still want to contribute,  your participation is invited as well. Only with your participation can the goal of eliminating this devastating illness be achieved.

Go to www.unceatingdisorders.org for regular updates. The researchers  thank you for your participation and encourage you to spread the word about ANGI!

You can choose to participate in this research project yourself, or, you can refer someone you feel would be interested in participating in this study.

* In Australia, to find out more about ANGI, or take part, visit https://angi.qimr.edu.au email angi@qimr.edu.au or freecall 1800 257 179.