Genes behind abdominal aortic aneurysm
Using genetics to discover mechanisms of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Researchers will use large-scale genetic and tissue data to find genes and biological signals that could help prevent or treat abdominal aortic aneurysms in people at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161577 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project combines genetic data from large international cohorts to increase the number of people studied and find genetic regions linked to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The team will fine-map those regions using bioinformatics and multi-omics data from abdominal aorta tissue to prioritize likely causal genes. Top candidate genes will be tested in cell culture and animal models to understand how they affect aortic biology. Researchers from genetics, computational biology, and cardiovascular medicine aim to turn genetic signals into prevention or treatment targets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with abdominal aortic aneurysm, a strong family history of AAA, or who are enrolled in a contributing biobank or cardiovascular genetics study would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without AAA-related conditions, those unwilling to provide genetic or tissue samples, or patients seeking immediate therapeutic benefit should not expect direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal biological targets that lead to earlier detection, prevention strategies, or new treatments for AAA.
How similar studies have performed: Similar genetics and multi-omics approaches have identified risk genes for coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, but applying these methods to AAA is relatively new and remains exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Yuqing Eugene — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Chen, Yuqing Eugene
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 below.