Researchers seeking more than 3,500 Australian volunteers for world’s largest eating disorders genetics investigation

Today we are delighted to announce the launch of the Australian arm of the Eating Disorders Genetics Initiative (EDGI) – the world’s largest genetics investigation of eating disorders ever performed. Our ground-breaking research aims to identify the hundreds of genes that influence a person’s risk of developing an eating disorder, revolutionising future research into the causes, treatment and prevention of these illnesses.

In Australia, we aim to recruit more than 3,500 Australians who have currently, or at any point in their lives experienced anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, including a control group (people without eating disorders), by March 31, 2022. We’re teaming with other centres in New Zealand, the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Denmark, to perform this ground-breaking genetic initiative.

Our researchers at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, are representing the Australian arm of this research study. World-renowned geneticist, who heads up our Genetic Epidemiology Group at QIMR Berghofer, Professor Nick Martin, is leading our Australian arm of the investigation. He is teaming with Clinical Psychiatrist and Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, USA, Professor Cynthia Bulik, who is acting as the study’s global Lead Investigator.

EDGI follows the ground-breaking, recent advances made through the collaborative Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative (ANGI), in which researchers, including the EDGI team, identified both psychiatric and metabolic causes for anorexia nervosa.

If you have experienced anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, please click here to volunteer for EDGI today.

To learn more about EDGI, explore our new website, or email us at edgi@qimrberghofer.edu.au.