Introduction to Epidemiological Studies -- Key Concepts in Genetic Epidemiology -- Quality Control of Common and Rare Variants -- Genome Wide Association Studies -- Assessing Rare Variation in Complex Traits -- Meta-analysis of Common and Rare Variants -- Gene-gene and Gene-environment Interactions -- Genetic Association in the HLA Region -- Novel Methods for Family-based Genetic Studies -- Methods for Polygenic Traits -- Multivariate Methods for Meta-analysis of Genetic Association Studies -- Methods of Analysis and Meta-Analysis for Identifying Differentially Expressed Genes -- A Primer in Mendelian Randomization Methodology with a Focus on Utilizing Published Summary Association Data -- Copy Number Variation -- From Identification to Function: Current Strategies to Prioritise and Follow-Up GWAS Results -- Translating Human Genetics into Novel Drug Targets.

This volume details fast-moving research while providing in-depth descriptions of methods and analytical approaches that are helping to understand the genome and how it is related to complex diseases. Chapters guide the reader through common and rare variation, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions and state-of-the-art approaches for the synthesis of genome-wide and gene expression data. Novel approaches for associations in the HLA region, family-based designs, Mendelian Randomization and Copy Number Variation are also presented. The volume concludes with the challenges researchers face while moving from identifying variants to their functional role and potential drug targets. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, a thorough presentation of methods and approaches and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.