Using ancestry and genetics to find diabetes risk in Native Hawaiians
Leveraging the Evolutionary History to Improve Identification of Trait-Associated Alleles and Risk Stratification Models in Native Hawaiians
Researchers are using Native Hawaiian genetic and ancestry information to find DNA changes linked to adult-onset diabetes and make better risk predictions for Native Hawaiian adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145789 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project focuses on Native Hawaiian adults, who face high rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes but are underrepresented in genetic studies. The team will collect and analyze genetic data and build better reference panels tailored to Native Hawaiian ancestry. They will combine ideas from population genetics and genetic epidemiology to pinpoint DNA variants tied to diabetes and body weight. The goal is to create ancestry-aware risk models that work better for Native Hawaiians than tools built mainly on European data.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Native Hawaiian adults interested in contributing genetic samples or health information, especially those with obesity or a family history of diabetes.
Not a fit: People without Native Hawaiian or related Pacific Islander ancestry are less likely to benefit directly from models developed specifically for Native Hawaiians.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce more accurate genetic risk scores and help guide prevention or early-care strategies for Native Hawaiian adults at risk of type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Ancestry-aware genetic approaches have improved risk prediction in some populations, but tailored genomic work for Native Hawaiians is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chiang, Charleston — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Chiang, Charleston
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.