Fig. 2
Usage of omics applications to prioritize GWAS variants. Locus zoom plot for a complex GWAS locus shows several candidate genes could be causal. Heatmap using various omics approaches for evidence supporting or refuting candidate causal genes. Beyond literature queries for candidates, various omics technologies and databases can be used to identify causal genes, including: searching for expression in relevant tissues [173,174,175], summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) [176], mediation analysis [177], conditional analysis [23], correlation analyses, searching for overlapping pQTLs [178, 179], and/or implementing epigenetic data to narrow candidates (discussed for FTO locus [16])