Genetic differences that affect Alzheimer's risk in African, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx groups
Project 1: Genetic Discovery Within Diverse Ancestry Cohorts
Researchers will analyze genetic data from African, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx people to find genes and biological pathways that change Alzheimer's risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126016 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at genetic information from people of African, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx ancestry to find genetic factors linked to Alzheimer's disease. The team will run multiple statistical analyses on existing genetic data and develop new methods to pinpoint regulatory genetic elements and make use of admixed chromosomes common in these groups. Results will be combined into polygenic and pathway analyses to identify molecular mechanisms that carry risk variants. The goal is to reveal ancestry-specific genetic contributors to Alzheimer's that have been missed by studies focused mainly on European ancestry.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Alzheimer's disease or at higher risk who are of African, African American, or Hispanic/Latinx ancestry and can contribute genetic data or join existing cohorts.
Not a fit: People from ancestries not included in the project or those not willing to share genetic or health data are unlikely to see direct benefits from this work in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could explain ancestry-based differences in Alzheimer's risk and guide better, more inclusive tests and treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genetics research has identified Alzheimer's risk genes mostly in European-ancestry groups, and ancestry-focused efforts have begun to find distinct risk loci but remain less extensive.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bush, William S — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Bush, William S
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.