Prof Peter Visscher

University of Queensland, Australia

Peter Visscher FRS is Professor of Quantitative Genetics at the University of Oxford and the University of Queensland. He is known for his research investigating the genetic basis of complex human traits, including common diseases. His research focuses on the causes and consequences of human trait variation. Visscher developed and applied statistical analysis methods to quantify and dissect the contribution of DNA polymorphisms to trait variation within families and in the population at large. He was one of the first to propose, advocate and show that genome and trait data can be used to predict individuals who are genetically at high risk of disease. The use of “polygenic risk scores” in health care is now being trialled worldwide.