Integrative computational and lab approaches to better predict cardiovascular risk from genes and variants
Official title: Integrative computational-experimental approaches for cardiovascular risk assessment
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11365365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to combine big patient data with fast lab tests to understand how rare gene changes affect cholesterol and heart disease risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,789,824 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL181570-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with genetic variants affecting LDL cholesterol or cardiovascular risk, and those who have elevated LDL-C or a family history of CVD.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without relevant genetic variants or those not contributing samples to functional studies may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will merge large human data sets with high-throughput lab screening to map rare coding variants that influence LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk. Using computational methods and CRISPR-based screens, researchers will connect genetic signals to actual biological effects relevant to patients. The work seeks to improve individualized risk assessments and potential clinical interventions by translating genetic findings into clearer variant interpretations. The team will address the challenge that many rare variants are hard to classify and may not be well represented in population studies. Outcomes could lead to better prediction of who is at higher risk and how to tailor prevention or treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve the accuracy of personal heart-attack risk predictions and guide targeted therapies based on a person’s genetic variants.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show that combining population data with functional assays can clarify variant effects, but applying this at scale across lipid-related genes is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cassa, Christopher — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Cassa, Christopher
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cardiovascular risk planning and reduction for men with prostate cancer
A program to better predict and reduce heart disease risk in men treated for prostate cancer, especially older patients.
-
Traumatic Stress, Epigenetic Aging, and Heart Risk in Veterans
A large study using Veterans Affairs data to see if traumatic stress and faster biological aging relate to higher risk of stroke and heart disease.
-
Lifestyle plan to protect muscle and heart health for adults with obesity using GLP-1 medications
A real-world trial tests a combined nutrition and resistance-training program versus standard care for adults starting GLP-1 weight loss drugs to preserve lean mass and cardiovascular health.
-
Role of the body's natural cannabis-like system in diabetes progression and heart risk
This grant studies how the body's endocannabinoid system affects the progression from obesity to diabetes and the associated risk for cardiovascular disease in adults.
-
Community and Peer Support for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk
Aims to understand how community and peer programs can help people lower cardiovascular risk, by analyzing existing programs and how their implementation and social support influence outcomes.
-
CardioPredict ML: A smarter way to gauge heart risk before pregnancy
A machine learning tool helps identify women at risk for pregnancy-related heart problems before conception, using health records and prior pregnancy data.
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.