Many studies have found that heart disease and its related risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes cluster in families, suggesting that inheritable genetic factors may increase susceptibility to these conditions. The proposed work, which will be conducted over the next 4 years, aims to identify common and rare genetic risk factors that predispose individuals to these conditions. Knowledge gained from this work may contribute important insights into the biological mechanisms underlying cardiovascular health. This type of information could help to identify individuals at high risk for heart disease or develop new therapeutic strategies for its treatment.
