NHLBI CARDIOVASCULAR GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM

Abstract

The University of Minnesota Training Program in Cardiovascular Genetic Epidemiology began in 2001. The program includes both pre- and post-doctoral trainees and provides skills in research methods for family-based studies, studies of gene-environment interaction, molecular approaches, and statistical genetics for complex diseases. Pre-doctoral trainees obtain a Ph.D. in epidemiology. Post-doctoral trainees with no prior degree in epidemiology are encouraged to obtain an M.P.H. degree with a focus in Public Health Genetics. Fellows are assigned a preceptor and collaborate with the faculty in ongoing research, including data collection and statistical genetic analysis.Trainees complete a minimum of one project for which they bear sole responsibility.The Division of Epidemiology has approximately 125 active research grants. Several are of key interest to genetic epidemiology, including the Genetics of Hypertension Associated Treatment; Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network; Genetics of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy; Minnesota Heart Survey; NHLBI Family Heart Study; and the Genetics of Coronary and Aortic Calcification. There are several long-standing observational epidemiological studies for which DNA is available for potential candidate gene-environment interaction studies.These include the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC); Cardiovascular Consequences of Sleep Apnea; Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA); Epidemiology of Venous Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism; MESA - Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.In addition to available research within the Division of Epidemiology, the Training Program faculty from outside the Division have extensive experience in the genetics of complex diseases from both a molecular and medical perspective.They are also engaged in research and have fully-operational sequencing and genotyping facilities.

Areas of Special Emphasis

Cardiovascular genetic epidemiology. Phenotypes include hypertension and its target organ manifestations (renal, cardiac), lipids, inflammatory markers. Methodological training in family-based studies; studies of gene-environment interaction (including pharmacogenetics), and association studies. Faculty expertise is available in all areas of the genetics of complex diseases (statistical, molecular, epidemiological, medical).

Number of Trainees Per Year

Predoctoral   2003:  0   2002:  0   2001:  3  

Postdoctoral  2003:  0   2002:  0   2001:  3

Key Faculty Available as Preceptors

V. Elving Anderson, PhD, Professor, Department of Genetics and Cell Biology
Genetics of complex diseases; molecular genetics

James W. Curtsinger, PhD, Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Population and quantitative genetics

John Eckfeldt, MD, PhD, Professor, Lab Medicine and Pathology
Biochemical markers of cardiovascular disease; molecular genetics

Aaron R. Folsom, MD, Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Cardiovascular epidemiology, particularly hemostasis, inflammation, and subclinical atherosclerosis

Christopher M. Gomez, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology
Genetics of complex diseases

David R. Jacobs, Jr., PhD, Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Epidemiologic methods; statistics; dietary intake in relation to cardiovascular disease

Jeffery Kahn, PhD, Professor, Center for Bioethics
Ethical, legal and social implications of research in genetics

Vivek Kapur, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
Molecular genetics; sequencing, single nucleotide polymorphism detection and typing; bioinformatics

Richard King, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine and Institute of Human Genetics
Genetics of complex diseases

Bonnie LeRoy, MS, Associate Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
Ethics related to genetics; genetic counseling

Na Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health , University of Minnesoto. Statistical Genetics

Russell V. Luepker, MD, Professor of Epidemiology and Division Director
Cardiovascular epidemiology, particularly clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease; community trials

Ronald C. McGlennan, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Molecular genetics; novel methods for single nucleotide polymorphism typing

Michael Miller, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Statistical genetics

Harry T. Orr, PhD, Professor,Institute of Human Genetics
Genetics of complex diseases

Wei Pan, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Statistical Genetics

James Pankow, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Co-Director, CVD Genetic Epidemiology Training Program
Genetic epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases; inflammation; postural hypotension

Laura Ranum, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development
Molecular genetics

Cavan Reilly, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Statistical Genetics

Pamela J. Schreiner, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Cardiovascular epidemiology, particularly lipids

Eyal Shahar, MD., MPH., Professor, Division of Epidemiology
Cardiovascular epidemiology, particularly stroke; epidemiologic methods

Ruth G. Shaw, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
Population and quantitative genetics

Michael Tsai, PhD, Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Last updated: August, 2004

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