Epigenetic markers of heart disease risk in African American women
Official title: Epigenetic biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in African American Women
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11378025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how epigenetic changes relate to heart disease risk in African American women to help improve prediction and prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $563,443 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL175681-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
African American women, particularly postmenopausal individuals participating in or eligible for the Women's Health Initiative or similar cohorts with epigenetic data and cardiovascular outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to the participant cohorts or without available epigenetic and cardiovascular data may see limited immediate benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at epigenetic changes, like DNA methylation, and how they might signal cardiovascular risk specifically in African American women. Using data from the Women's Health Initiative, researchers will identify epigenetic biomarkers linked to heart disease and its environmental influences. The goal is to see whether these biomarkers can improve risk prediction and inform targeted prevention for this high-risk group. The study combines genetic data with lifestyle, clinical outcomes, and aging factors to understand disparities in cardiovascular disease. Results could guide personalized risk assessment and community health strategies for African American women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Potentially better, more personalized risk prediction and prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease in African American women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have begun linking epigenetic marks to cardiovascular risk, but this project emphasizes a large, diverse cohort to strengthen applicability.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Franceschini, Nora — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Franceschini, Nora
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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.