Our Studies

Viking III

Image

Viking III launched in the summer of 2022 and was made possible thanks to Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.

We recruited over 3,000 people into the study with 2 or more grandparents from the Hebrides. This meant over 10,000 volunteers are involved in Viking Genes. With data from these new volunteers, we'll be able to gain a better understanding of genetics and health across the Scottish Isles. 

If you'd like to learn more about Viking Genes and what's involved in our research, you can read about it in the link below:

Viking Genes

Viking II

Image

Viking II launched in 2020 and is also made possible thanks to Medical Research Council (MRC) funding.  We aim to better understand what might cause health conditions such as heart disease, eye disease, stroke, diabetes and others.

We recruited over 4,000 volunteers who have two or more grandparents from Orkney or Shetland. Volunteers were asked to complete a questionnaire and provide a saliva (spit) sample. They completed the study in the comfort of their own home. 

Despite the launch of Viking III, this study is very much still open to volunteers. If you'd like to join, you can sign up using the Viking Genes registration form, if you're not yet part of one of our other studies.

If you'd like to learn more about Viking Genes and what's involved in our research, you can read about it in the link below:

Viking Genes

Our team is based at The University of Edinburgh, at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer and the Usher Institute. Please email us at viking@ed.ac.uk if you have any questions.

VIKING Health Study - Shetland

Image

The Viking Health Study - Shetland finished recruiting in 2015. The study aims to discover the genes and variants that influence the risk of common, complex diseases.

Many common diseases are known as complex because they're influenced by many genes and environmental factors. Common, complex diseases include diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, heart disease, myopia, glaucoma and chronic kidney and lung disease. Finding the genes involved is the first step on the road to developing new ways of diagnosing and treating these diseases.

From March 2013 – March 2015, we recruited 2,105 volunteers, with at least two grandparents from Shetland. Each volunteer completed a postal health survey questionnaire and attended a 2-hour measurement clinic. They also attended a 20-minute venepuncture clinic, to give a blood sample. The dedicated research clinic was based in Lerwick.

The success of the study is thanks to the people of Shetland, who have been exceptionally good at volunteering to take part. 

Orkney Complex Disease Study (ORCADES)

Image

The Orkney Complex Disease Study (ORCADES) recruited volunteers from 2005 - 2011. It also aims to discover the genes and variants that influence the risk of common, complex diseases.

Many of these diseases run in families, therefore, we focussed our research on those who had at least two Orcadian grandparents. Orkney is also known for its isolation from mainland Scotland. Studies in isolated populations have a number of advantages for identifying genes, including the ability to use information on the inheritance of variants through a family.

After six years of collecting data, we finished recruitment of 2,080 volunteers, in March 2011. Each volunteer attended a venepuncture clinic to give a blood sample. They also attended a cardiovascular measurement clinic, as part of the ORCADES Cardiovascular Study. The majority also attended further clinics as part of the ORCADES Bone and Eye Studies. Here, they had scans to look at bone strength and fat distribution. They also had cognitive function testing and eye measurements.

ORCADES measurements were performed in a mobile clinic (a converted lorry) on four of the North Isles of Orkney. After that, we renovated premises in Kirkwall as a research centre. The success of the study is thanks to the people of Orkney who have been extremely good at volunteering to take part.