Understanding Disease Causes in Diverse Populations
Integrating genome, other layers of omics, and non-genetic data to improve understanding of the etiology of human diseases in multi-ethnic populations
This project aims to better understand why human diseases, including Alzheimer's, affect different ethnic groups by looking closely at genetic and other biological markers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Hawaii at Manoa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Honolulu, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141191 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many diseases, like Alzheimer's, impact people from various backgrounds differently, and we don't fully understand why. This project will explore how genes, proteins, and other biological signals contribute to these diseases in diverse populations, including African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, Europeans, and Native Hawaiians. By using advanced methods to study these biological markers, we hope to uncover new insights into disease development. This work is crucial because most past research has focused mainly on people of European ancestry, leaving gaps in our knowledge for other groups. Our goal is to find out which biological markers are specific to certain groups and which are common across all.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but seeks to understand disease mechanisms in diverse populations, particularly those of African, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, European, and Native Hawaiian ancestries.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical interventions will not find them through this basic research project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of disease causes, help identify new ways to prevent or treat conditions like Alzheimer's, and ultimately reduce health disparities among different ethnic groups.
How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have identified some biomarkers, this project uses a novel design to overcome methodological limitations and inconsistencies found in conventional epidemiologic studies, especially across diverse populations.
Where this research is happening
Honolulu, United States
- University of Hawaii at Manoa — Honolulu, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Lang — University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Study coordinator: Wu, Lang
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.