CheckIron
from 07/01/2019 until 07/01/2040
CheckIron is a citizen science project investigating the relationship between DNA and the most common genetic disease in people of Northern European heritage called Hereditary Hemochromatosis. We are collecting data from people who mostly have the disease and as a result we are already the second largest study worldwide (in terms of suffering people with the strongest form) . In terms of all the forms of Hemochromatosis we are the largest study as all the other studies have not considered suffering carriers of the disease. Ordinary people are donating their data to this endeavour – they are fully anonymous and there is no cost to the users. The users get a free report detailing their risks for the disease and relationship to other metabolic diseases which make symptoms worse for them. Those users can join our Facebook CheckIron group and particpate in discussions about their adn others results and the factors that affect them. They can also ask for new features of the software tool and we've created new versions over the years to satisfy our citizen scientists. Before we did this research, it was believed DNA could not predict whether or not their genes could predict someone getting symptoms. We now have >4400 datasets and it’s growing every day – we are using Artificial Intelligence software to learn which genes are contributing to symptoms. We have >2,200 members of our Facebook group. We fully expect we will prove a strong relationship between genetics and when someone will get the disease in the next few years.
Aim
We believe there is currently an incorrect view of the role of genetics in iron overload because others cannot match those that suffer symptoms with gene mutations. By looking at a large sample and more genes/mutations than is commonly done and using AI to predict who will get or not get symptoms we CAN predict age at which isymptoms will occur. We still do not have enough data. We have over 4,000 samples which in terms of suffers is more than most other studies but one - ie we will become the 2nd largest study ever early in 2025. But we are the ONLY study lookng at all the genetic variants of Hemochromatosis. Our calculated aim is 9000 samples in order to get unequivocal results and we expect this to take another 2 years at current exponential growth levels.
Needed equipment
No equipment needed other than a computer. You need consumer raw DNA from supplier like Ancestry and 23andMe - you download that data from your supplier and upload to checkiron.com. There is no login - you are anonymous and the information you get back is free of any charges.
About funding
Funding bodies: Alibro Ltd
Created Dec. 11, 2024, 12:26 p.m.
Updated June 12, 2025, 4:49 p.m.
