Understanding how social factors and neighborhood conditions affect heart health
Epigenomic landscape of individual- and neighborhood-level social disadvantages and cardiovascular health disparity
This research explores how social and neighborhood factors influence heart disease, especially in Black communities, by looking at changes in our biology over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11135413 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that heart disease is a major health concern, particularly affecting Black communities in the U.S. This project aims to understand how things like poverty, education, and the conditions in your neighborhood can impact your heart health. We will look at how these social factors might change your body's biology, specifically through 'epigenetic markers,' which are like switches that turn genes on or off. By following people over time, starting from a younger age, we hope to uncover the biological links between social experiences and heart disease risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for related future studies might include adults, especially those from Black communities, aged 21 and older, who are interested in understanding how social factors affect their health over time.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for existing heart conditions may not directly benefit from this foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent heart disease and reduce health disparities by addressing social factors and their biological impacts.
How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have linked social factors to heart disease, this research uses a novel longitudinal approach to explore biological mechanisms and genetic ancestry, which has been less explored.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hou, Lifang — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Hou, Lifang
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.