STAT3 and multiple sclerosis: For example, a SNP in STAT3, rs744166, is associated with both CD and multiple sclerosis, but the risk allele for CD is protective for multiple sclerosis and vice versa.13, 76 As such, while it is undoubtedly interesting that overlapping associations are detectable across distinct diseases – either at the SNP or gene level – much more work needs to be done to determine the true extent of any biological overlap.