How age‑related blood stem cell mutations may lead to heart, lung, liver, blood clot, and bone problems
Multi-omic dissection of clonal hematopoiesis-associated diseases
This project uses large patient genetic and protein datasets to find how common blood stem cell mutations in older adults may lead to heart attacks, stroke, lung and liver disease, blood clots, and weak bones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193999 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be represented through data in large health databases that include blood DNA and protein measurements, and researchers will apply statistical and machine‑learning methods to link clonal hematopoiesis (CHIP) to disease. The team will combine groups of related proteins into pathway‑level measures to improve detection of disease signals. They will analyze data from TOPMed, the UK Biobank, and the Mass General Brigham Biobank to look for molecular patterns that explain why CHIP raises risk for cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, thrombotic, and bone disease. Findings aim to point to measurable blood markers or pathways that could help predict who with CHIP is most at risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) represented in the TOPMed, UK Biobank, or Mass General Brigham Biobank datasets, especially older adults or people known to have CHIP or related cardiopulmonary, liver, clotting, or bone conditions.
Not a fit: People without CHIP mutations, younger adults, or patients with conditions unrelated to CHIP are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal blood markers and biological pathways that predict which people with CHIP are likely to develop heart, lung, liver, clotting, or bone disease, informing prevention or future targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked CHIP to higher risk of heart disease and stroke, but combining proteomics and machine‑learning across multiple large biobanks to pinpoint mechanisms and pathway markers is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Zhi — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Yu, Zhi
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.