Lineagen focuses on three primary medical conditions: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay (DD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In each of these areas, Lineagen is performing unique research to identify genetic markers that can be used as the basis for molecular diagnostic tests and/or as therapeutic or drug targets. Lineagen has developed broad intellectual property portfolios in each of these areas.

Why is Lineagen’s research so powerful?

Lineagen performs research on very large, multi-generational families or pedigrees that are at high-risk for certain conditions. A pedigree is “high-risk” if the incidence of the condition in the pedigree is significantly greater than that of the general population.

Since relatives have more similar genetic sequences, it is easier to find the genetic differences that are responsible for the disease or condition. Some of the most important genetic discoveries were made using this technique. Utah is the best place in the world to perform these types of genetic studies because of the unique dynamic of very large families, millions of integrated genealogy, medical, and demographic records, and a cooperative populace truly committed to sharing in the improvement of medical science.

Why these conditions?

We believe that genetic information can be of tremendous importance in helping doctors identify and diagnose these conditions earlier.  Lineagen chose ASD/DD, MS, and COPD because these are all areas in which early diagnosis dramatically improves the effectiveness of treatment.