Finding and helping families with inherited high cholesterol
Official title: Identification Methods, Patient Activation, and Cascade Testing for FH: IMPACT-FH
Funded at Geisinger Clinic · NIH-11018568 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries new ways to find people with inherited high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia) and help their family members get tested and treated early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Geisinger Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Danville, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $734,199 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL148246-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018568 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with very high LDL cholesterol, early-onset heart disease, or a family member known or suspected to have FH (and their first-degree relatives) are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without inherited high cholesterol or those who do not receive care at participating health systems may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You may be identified by checking medical records, cholesterol results, or genetic testing that suggest inherited high cholesterol. The team will contact patients and offer help to notify and test first-degree relatives (cascade testing) and will adapt these approaches for regular primary care clinics beyond the original specialty setting. They will measure the costs and study what helps these programs keep running so health systems can decide if the program is practical. The aim is to make family-based identification and treatment routine so more people can start cholesterol-lowering care earlier.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people and their relatives could be diagnosed sooner and begin treatments that lower their risk of heart attacks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous IMPACT-FH work in genetic specialty clinics showed promising results for finding FH and engaging relatives, but adapting these methods to primary care and other health systems remains less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Geisinger Clinic
Danville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morales Reyes, Ana — Geisinger Clinic
- Study coordinator: Morales Reyes, Ana
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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.