# Project 2: Novel Risk Factors and Precision Medicine for Gout Flares

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $254,064

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY 
Gout is a common and excruciatingly painful inflammatory arthritis associated with hyperuricemia. The 
prevalence of gout has increased over the past few decades to 3.9% of US adults (8.3 million individuals), 
which is further complicated by a high level of comorbidities (CoRT theme, including chronic kidney disease 
(CKD)) and their sequelae (e.g., premature death). Despite our understanding of gout's pathogenesis and 
available medications, gout management remains suboptimal with recurrent attacks occurring frequently, and 
there is a clear need to broaden the evidence-based and personalized precision approach to gout care. Our 
previous Boston Online Gout Study successfully provided the relevant evidence about the role of traditionally 
purported risk factors for gout flares in pre-existing gout patients, which was endorsed by the latest ACR gout 
guidelines. However, evidence for purported novel common modifiable risk factors as well as genetic and 
other key attributes, which are essential for precision gout care, are lacking. To fill this key evidence 
gap, we will expand our successful platform of the Boston Online Gout Study by following 800 gout patients 
from the Partners Biobank cohort (N >75,000) and 200 black gout patients from the UAB Rheumatology Arthritis 
Database and Registry over the course of 1 year. We will first examine novel common modifiable factors (i.e., 
sugar-sweetened beverages, coffee, and tea) for the risk of gout flares (Aim 1). Furthermore, we will translate 
recent genomic research data towards precision medicine in gout care for both lifestyle and 
pharmacologic interventions. Specifically, we will examine the purported influence of urate genes involved in 
sugar transport (SLC2A9) and metabolism genes (GCKR, IGF1R, and INHBB) on the impact of key risk factors 
for gout flares (Aim 2). We will also examine the purported impact of the ABCG2 variant (Q141K) and PRKAG2 
variant (which encodes the gamma chain of AMPK (a master regulator of gouty inflammation)) on allopurinol's 
clinical efficacy for gout flares, as well as the purported role of the SLC2A9 variant on diuretic-induced gout 
flares (Aim 3). Finally, we will examine the role of other key attributes (i.e., race (black) and CKD status 
(stage 3 or higher)) on the impact of key triggers of gout flares among gout patients to further precision gout care 
(Aim 4). These aims address novel, common risk factors, gene-environmental interactions, 
pharmacogenomics, and race/CKD impact, all of which can be readily translated into clinical practice to 
optimize gout care. Further, the innovative and cost-effective study design leverages our group's extensive 
gout research experience and provides key research translation for precision medicine in gout. This project 
will have an important positive impact on millions of gout patients by filling key evidence gaps on modifiable 
factors and relevant subgroups at risk for gout flares.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017005
- **Project number:** 5P50AR060772-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** HYON K CHOI
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $254,064
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-09-20 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017005

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017005, Project 2: Novel Risk Factors and Precision Medicine for Gout Flares (5P50AR060772-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017005. Licensed CC0.

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