Statistical Genetic Analysis- Dr. Lange's primary research interests are in the development and application of statistical methods to genetic data. His methodological work has focused on developing techniques for haplotype-based association analyses, linkage analysis, and genetic power analyses. He has been involved in past projects that have successfully localized susceptibility genes for the Mendelian traits ataxia-telangiectasia and the Nijmegen breakage syndrome. Unfortunately, susceptibility for many traits is governed by complex interactions between many genes and numerous environmental exposures. This complexity creates new challenges for geneticists. Fortunately, great strides have been made recently in the fields of genetics and computer science that have provided researchers the ability to access and analyze a tremendous amount of potentially useful data. The ultimate challenge for statistical geneticists may be how to best utilize all of this information. Clearly, strong collaborations between clinicians, molecular geneticists, epidemiologists and statistical geneticists, among others, will be vital for success in future gene mapping. Dr. Lange hopes to develop methodology that will make good use of all the available data to assist in these gene mapping efforts.

Prostate Cancer Susceptibility- Since 1997, in collaboration with Kathleen Cooney at the University of Michigan, Dr. Lange has also has been actively involved in the efforts to identify prostate cancer susceptibility genes. To date, no definitive prostate cancer susceptibility genes have been identified. Some putative susceptibility genes have been recently suggested, but it remains to be seen just how relevant these candidates are. The difficulty in identifying prostate cancer susceptibility genes is typical of the difficulties encountered when attempting to map genes for many other complex traits. There are likely to be many prostate cancer susceptibility genes, each with small but contributing effects. Recently, Dr. Cooney and Dr. Lange joined a large international linkage consortium called the International Consortium for Prostate Cancer Genetics (ICPCG). This group is combining their resources in order to achieve sufficient power to detect genes with modest effects. Together, the ICPCG has uncovered a number of interesting linkage regions that have encouraged further investigation.