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Center for Common Disease Genomics [CCDG] - Cardiovascular: Genetic and Phenotypic Determinants of Blood Pressure and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors

This study is a part of NHGRI's Center for Common Disease Genomics, which is a collaborative large-scale genome sequencing effort to comprehensively identify rare risk and protective variants contributing to multiple common disease phenotypes. Current estimates anticipate that the CCDG program will sequence approximately 140K whole genomes and 225K whole exomes during the life of the project.

The Cardiovascular Disease working group of the CCDG considered five diseases: early-onset coronary artery disease (EOCAD), stroke, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes. Atrial fibrillation will affect between 6-12 million individuals in the US by 2050. AF also is associated with increased risks of stroke, dementia, heart failure, death, and high health care costs. Many risk factors for AF have been identified, including advancing age, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and CVD risk factors. However, there is little knowledge how to prevent AF. Furthermore, therapies for AF are only partially effective, and are themselves associated with substantial morbidity. Previously, heritable forms of AF have been considered rare; yet in the last decade, it has been established that AF, and in particular early-onset forms of AF, are heritable. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide a powerful tool to identify common variants underlying disease risk. The AFGen Consortium currently consists of investigators from more than 25 studies with >20,000 individuals with AF and >100,000 without AF. In the latest analyses, 14 loci have been identified for AF1. Broadly, the loci implicate genes related to cardiopulmonary development, cardiac-expressed ion channels, and cell signaling molecules.
Source: ccdg.rutgers.edu

The GAPP study is an ongoing national population-based prospective cohort study conducted in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Between 2010 and 2014, all inhabitants of Liechtenstein aged 25-41 years old were asked to participate in the study, and 2170 could be enrolled. The aim of the study is to identify the determinants of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors and their progression over time. A large number of baseline characteristics and health information as well as several blood, urinary and genetic markers were collected. The samples were sent to The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to generate genetic data using whole exome sequencing and whole genome genotyping (Infinium Global Screening Array); all samples serving as controls.