Skip to navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer

Approved research

Investigation of genetic factors underlying cardiovascular diseases and their factors

Principal Investigator: Dr Andrew Johnson
Approved Research ID: 28525
Approval date: July 1st 2017

Lay summary

Previous genome-wide association analyses have identified common genetic variants contributing to cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. However, larger sample sizes are needed to identify rare genetic variants, gene by environment interactions, and gene by gene interactions, which contribute to cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. We aim to integrate UK Biobank analyses with other ongoing genetic studies in these domains to make and validate new discoveries. The goal of the UK Biobank is to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses. Our research aims hope to find new contributors or modifiers to major diseases. Discoveries from this work could identify new potential therapeutic targets, or help stratify populations to improve clinical benefits to some. We will investigate the association of genetic variation across the entire human genome with blood pressure and other cardiometabolic traits (e.g., body mass index, blood lipid levels, blood glucose, blood cell counts, alcohol, smoking) and cardiovascular disease outcomes (e.g., heart attack, stroke, venous thromboembolism, bleeding, and mortality). We plan to include the full cohort to maximize the power to examine the interplay of risk factors on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors.