Blood pressure gene risk score used to guide treatment in adults with hypertension
Official title: Clinical Implementation of Blood Pressure Polygenic Risk Score: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11378697 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests whether sharing a person’s blood pressure genetic risk score helps clinicians tailor treatment and improve blood pressure control in adults with high blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $726,809 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL176882-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378697 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with hypertension or elevated blood pressure who are willing to use genetic risk information to guide their care.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not respond to standard therapies or who are not interested in using genetic risk information may receive no additional benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a polygenic risk score for systolic blood pressure to guide treatment decisions in a two-arm randomized trial. Participants are adults with elevated blood pressure who will be followed over time to see if knowing their genetic risk improves adherence to medications and lifestyle changes. The trial combines genetic information with standard care to see if outcomes like blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk can improve. Researchers will monitor adherence, blood pressure measurements, and clinical events to determine if the approach provides added benefit beyond traditional risk factors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may achieve better blood pressure control and lower cardiovascular risk through personalized treatment plans.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests genetic risk information can influence risk perception and treatment adherence, but results in hypertensive adults are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arora, Pankaj — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Arora, Pankaj
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.