50 K Vascular Disease SNP Array

Coordinator:		Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Koenig
Institution:		Universität Ulm
Homepage:		www.uniklinik-ulm.de

Within this sub-project we focus on the evaluation of a 50K Vascular Disease SNP Chip in the MONICA/KORA case-cohort study concerning clinical endpoints like moyocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as various intermediate phenotypes reflecting e.g. inflammation and oxidative stress. The 50K chip has been specifically developed for cardiovascular issues and includes appr. 50.000 SNPs from genes, which are involved in cardiometabolic processes including inflammatory pathways. This projects will be carried out in close collaboration with the UPENN/CARE Consortium.
Another focus in this sub-project is the evaluation and replication of 500K GWAS in the MONICA/KORA S3 cross-sectional study, concerning intermediate inflammatory phenotypes. Our group is a member of the CHARGE Inflammation working group and enables us to take part in a meta-analysis of these biomarkers based on several thousands of subjects from various large cohorts.
The overall objectives are the achievment of scientific knowledge regarding genetic predisposition of cardiometabolic diseases. Furthermore, gene-dosage effects and appropriate interactions (gene-gene and gene environment) will also be considered within this research project.