Investigating how telomere length affects human diseases
Official title: PheWAS and GWAS of Telomere Length to Understand Human Disease
Funded at Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation · NIH-10664860 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the length of telomeres, which are protective caps on our DNA, might be connected to different health issues, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how our genes and environment can affect our health over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Marshfield, United States) |
| Project start | September 16, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $443,796 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM130715-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10664860 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with a family history of cancer or age-related diseases, as well as those interested in understanding their genetic predisposition to these conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have any genetic predisposition to diseases related to telomere length may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between telomere length and various human diseases by analyzing genetic and environmental factors. Telomeres, which protect chromosome ends, shorten as cells divide, serving as a biological clock for cell viability. The study aims to associate numerous health conditions with telomere length through extensive phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) and to identify genetic variants linked to telomere length in the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted on this topic. By understanding these associations, the research seeks to uncover potential diagnostic and predictive markers for diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for diseases associated with telomere length.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in linking telomere length to various diseases, indicating that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation
Marshfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hebbring, Scott Joseph — Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Hebbring, Scott Joseph
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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.