Ancestral diversity in complex disease genetics: from discovery to translation

The expansion of ancestrally diverse genetic cohorts has altered the landscape of complex disease genetics. Differences in linkage disequilibrium across populations have improved fine-mapping and the identification of target genes - key steps for translating findings from genome-wide association studies into biological understanding. Whilst there is widespread sharing of genetic architecture across ancestries, loci that display heterogeneity in causal genetic effects across populations can offer unique biological insights. Here, we review how ancestral and global diversity shape genetic discoveries. As we advance towards global precision medicine, integrating genomic data with diverse environmental and social factors will be crucial to account for population-specific contexts that can influence disease risk or treatment response.