GEI: Genes, Enviroment, and Health Initiative

Program Description

The GEI is an NIH wide initiative that has two main components: the Genetics Program and the Exposure Biology Program. The Genetics Program is a pipeline for analyzing genetic variation in groups of patients with specific illnesses. The Exposure Biology Program is an environmental technology development program to produce and validate new methods for monitoring environmental exposures that interact with a genetic variation to result in human diseases. The NHLBI is spearheading the Methods of Analysis of Gene-Environment Interactions in Complex Diseases initiative in the GEI Genetics Program. Additionally, the NHLBI in partnership with the NCI are leading the Improved Measures of the Diet and Physical Activity in the GEI Exposure Biology Program. On August 4-5, 2008, NHLBI organized a GEI workshop called "Genome-wide Association: Analyze This!" The purpose of this workshop is to share and discuss statistical strategies to identify environmental components or covariates of disease and their interactions with genes in genome-wide association studies.

The NHLBI Program Officers for the GEI Genetics Program are Cashell Jaquish, Ph.D. and Dina Paltoo, Ph.D., M.P.H. The NHLBI Program Officer for the GEI Exposure Biology Program is Catherine Loria.

Related Websites:

NIH GEI Home Page
NIH GEI Genetics Program
NIH GEI Exposure Biology Program

Program Start and End Date

Septmber 2007 to August 2009

Original Funding Announcement (FOA)

GEI Funding Announcements