Reynolds Project - Atherosclerosis

Available genetic epidemiological studies suggest that atherosclerotic heart disease is not determined by variation in a single gene, but by DNA variants in a number of genes, any one of which is unlikely to explain more than 5% of the individual variation in the disease process.

We have chosen to focus on the identification of common DNA variants present in genes that are selectively expressed in the vascular wall and are regulated by pathophysiologically relevant stimuli.

We are learning whether the DNA variants, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in these candidate genes contribute to disease phenotypes by performing a large scale genetic association study that features thousands of patients with and without cardiovascular disease.