A platform for Mendelian randomisation using summary data from genome-wide association studies

Current status

Beta phase release

App version:
1.4.3 8a77eb (25 October 2020)

R version:
4.0.3

Host:
2b9d74b5d317

R/TwoSampleMR version:
0.5.5

Database version:
0.3.0 (25 October 2020)

Before beginning analysis in the web application please do review the 'Data access agreement' in the sidebar.

25 October 2020 - Major updates - see Changelog

Information

This web-app represents relatively limited analytical scope compared to using the TwoSampleMR R package directly, which also enables analysis of your own outcome data:
https://mrcieu.github.io/TwoSampleMR/

See LD Hub for automated LD score regression:
http://ldsc.broadinstitute.org/

See EpiGraphDB for pre-calculated MR results and many other epidemiological datasets:
https://www.epigraphdb.org/

Data underlying this web-app are hosted by the OpenGWAS project:
https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk

The data is contributed by the international GWAS community - please see Acknowledgements and cite studies accordingly!

Background

Mendelian randomization using summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is an increasingly important tool for appraising causality in hypothesized exposure-outcome pathways. The approach can, however, be technically challenging and time consuming to implement. We have therefore created a new platform built on harmonised summary data from multiple GWAS called MR-Base that greatly simplifies the implementation of Mendelian randomization. In addition to simple lookup requests for individual SNPs across multiple GWAS, MR-Base automates implementation of two-sample Mendelian randomization, including effect allele harmonisation across separate studies, LD pruning to ensure independence of genetic variants and diagnostic and sensitivity analyses. See our methods paper for more details on the design and scope of MR Base. More general information on the principles, assumptions and limitations of Mendelian randomization can be found in the papers recommended on this page.

Intro to MR

GWAS studies, databases and consortia

We are grateful to the following GWAS studies, databases and consortia who have kindly made their summary data available:

Moving to OpenGWAS infrastructure

  • Migrating from the legacy MR-Base database to the OpenGWAS data infrastructure - now over 34k traits and 125 billion genetic associations
  • We recently removed functionality to access private datasets via this web-app - if you would like to access private datasets please use the R package.
  • Updated citations handling
  • Migrating to TwoSampleMR vs 0.5.5
  • Quick SNP lookup tool now uses ieugwasr::phewas() functionality to improve speed
  • Added changelog
  • Various bug fixes

Various updates

  • Default 'clump data' changed from 0.01 to 0.001
  • Fixed the code output for extract_instruments - sometimes was giving the wrong IDs
  • Providing more info about the exposure and outcome variables selected for each analysis

New studies added to database

  • The MR Base database now comprises 1693 studies

New studies added to database

  • The MR Base database now comprises 974 studies

Sensitivity analysis added

  • Perform leave one out analysis, MR Egger test for horizontal pleiotropy, and heterogeneity tests

New studies added to database

  • The MR Base database now comprises 443 studies

TwoSampleMR R package

  • The TwoSampleMR R package is now available to install via github.

MR Base web app is now online

  • This is an alpha version. Proceed with caution...

MR Base Terms of Use

The majority of data in MR Base is kindly made available for use by many research organisations and consortia .

These terms (Terms) set out the basis on which the University of Bristol, a body incorporated by Royal Charter under number RC000648 having its administrative offices at Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TH (University) agrees to provide you with access to the MR-Base platform (Platform) and through the Platform summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS Data).

1. Licence: The University grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable revocable licence to access and use the Platform for private or non-commercial research purposes only. If you wish to access and use the Platform for commercial research purposes, please forward your enquiry to mr-base@bristol.ac.uk.

2. Ownership of MR-base: Subject to paragraph 1, nothing in these Terms grants you any right to, or in, any intellectual property rights of any nature (whether existing now or in the future and whether registered or unregistered) in the Platform.

3. Downloading: You agree that you will not attempt to download GWAS Data from the Platform in bulk or otherwise use the Platform in a way that would or might adversely affect the performance or operation of the Platform for other users.

4. Credits: You agree to cite any use of the Platform in the form set out in the “About” tab. You further agree to observe and comply with any notice requiring you to cite the original source of any GWAS Data in your analyses in the form set out in such notice.

5. Ownership of GWAS Data: GWAS Data may be protected by copyright, database rights and other intellectual property rights around the world. Unless otherwise stated in any notice accompanying any particular GWAS Data, all such rights are reserved by the contributor of the GWAS Data and you agree to observe and comply with any specific licence terms specified by such contributors.

6. Identification of data subjects: You agree not to use, combine, manipulate or transform the GWAS Data in any way that would or might enable you to identify any living individual to which the GWAS Data relates, in breach of data protection laws anywhere in the world.

7. Disclaimers: We do not guarantee that (a) the Platform or any GWAS Data will always be available or interrupted; (b) the Platform or any GWAS Data will be accurate, complete, free from errors or omissions or secure or free from bugs or viruses; or (c) that the result of using the Platform or any GWAS Data will be accurate, adequate or fit for any particular purpose (more general information on the principles, assumptions and limitation of Mendelian randomization can be found on the papers recommended in the “About” tab). Where the Platform contains links to other sites or resources provided by third parties, these links are provided for your information only and you acknowledge that we have no control over the content of those sites or resources. All warranties, representations, conditions and all other terms of any kind whatsoever implied by statute or common law, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable, law, excluding from these Terms.

8. Limitation of liability: You assume sole responsibility for the results obtained from the use of the Platform and any GWAS Data and for conclusions drawn from such use. The University shall have no liability for any damage or other loss whatsoever arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform or any GWAS Data. The University shall not be liable in any circumstances whether in contract, tort (including for negligence), misrepresentation (whether innocent or negligent), restitution or otherwise for any special, indirect or consequential loss, costs, damages, charges or expenses however arising under these Terms including but not limited to loss of funding or loss of opportunity, goodwill or reputation. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability which cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law.

9. Suspension and termination: The University may, at its sole discretion, suspend, withdraw, discontinue or change all or any part of the Platform (in respect of any single user, group of users or all users of the Platform) without notice and whether or not arising from any breach of these Terms. The University will not be liable to you in such circumstances.

10. Changes to these Terms: The University may revise these Terms at any time by amending this page. Please check this page from time to time to take notice of any changes, as they will be legally binding on you.

11. Governing law and jurisdiction: These Terms and any claims or disputes arising out of or in connection with them (including non-contractual disputes) shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales whose courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle the same.



Please note that when you log on we keep a record of your email address on our servers to a) ensure that you obtain appropriate access to the GWAS database, b) to compile usage statistics that help us keep this project funded and c) to monitor inappropriate or unfair usage. We do NOT log the queries that are being performed, and we do NOT share your email address with anybody else.

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Choosing instruments for the exposure

To use two sample MR to estimate the causal effect of an exposure on an outcome, the first step is to identify SNPs that are robustly associated with the exposure. These summary statistics for these SNPs can be taken from a sample from which there is no data on the outcome.

Please provide instruments by choosing from one of the data sources below, or by uploading your own data. You can choose multiple exposures to be analysed, and multiple instruments per exposure.

Choose instruments

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Select outcomes for analysis

The MR Base database houses a large collection of summary statistic data from hundreds of GWAS studies. In order to perform two sample MR, the SNPs that were selected for the exposures will be extracted from the outcomes that you select here.

Please select the outcomes that you want to test for being causally influenced by the exposures.

Studies available in MR base



LD clumping

Most two sample MR methods require that the instruments do not have LD between them.

LD proxies

If a particular exposure SNP is not present in an outcome dataset, should proxy SNPs be used instead through LD tagging?

Allele harmonisation

An important step in two sample MR is making sure that the effects of the SNPs on the exposure correspond to the same allele as their effects on the outcome. This is potentially difficult with palindromic SNPs.

Select methods for analysis

Many methods exist for performing two sample MR. Different methods have sensitivities to different potential issues, accommodate different scenarios, and vary in their statistical efficiency.

Submit

Once you have selected exposures, outcomes, and analysis options you are ready to perform the analysis.

Analysis log


                  

Analysis R code


                  

Citations


                  

SNP lookup results