Using genetics to personalize statin treatment for Veterans
Official title: Reducing Veterans' Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Through Pharmacogenomics Informed Statin Prescribing
Funded at Durham VA Medical Center · NIH-11173607 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses genetic test results to help Veterans at high risk for heart disease choose and stick with the right statin so they can lower their cholesterol and heart risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Durham VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003477-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11173607 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans seen in VA primary care who are at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and who are not taking a statin or are hesitant about statin therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who already take and tolerate an appropriate statin, those without elevated cardiovascular risk, or people whose genetics do not change statin recommendations are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You would receive a simple genetic test that reports common variants tied to how well statins work and the chance of side effects. Your clinicians would share those results along with your personal heart disease risk to guide conversations about starting or continuing a statin. The team will track whether this information changes how patients view statins, whether more Veterans accept treatment, and whether people stick with their medicine. The goal is to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce future heart attacks and strokes using a practical approach that can work in regular VA primary care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more high-risk Veterans could start and stay on effective statin therapy and achieve lower LDL cholesterol, which may lower their risk of heart attack and stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work by this group showed pharmacogenomic testing for statins is feasible, improved patient views of statins, doubled appropriate prescribing, and lowered cholesterol, though broader confirmation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Durham VA Medical Center
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Voora, Deepak — Durham VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Voora, Deepak
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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.