# Northwestern Genomic Risk Assessment and Management Program

> **NIH NIH U01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $384,018

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Since early 2020, COVID-19 disease spread rapidly across the US and will likely be sustained or recur
periodically until an effective vaccine or prophylactic treatment is developed. The pandemic will have a large
impact on the conduct of the next phase of eMERGE, including recruitment of new participants as well as
development, validation, and implementation of genomic risk assessments based on polygenic risk scores
(PRS). The supplement presents an opportunity for Northwestern to contribute eMERGE network efforts to
promote the understanding of the genetic epidemiology and individual susceptibility to COVID-19 infection,
disease severity, and complications. In support of efforts proposed in the supplement application for the
coordinating center, we propose to expand Aim 1 of our eMERGE 4 application with the following aim: Create,
validate and implement COVID-19 ePhenotyping for manifest disease, disease severity, and specific
COVID-19 complications in the Northwestern biobank. Recognizing that decisions about ePhenotype
development and implementation will be made in collaboration with the coordinating center and other
participating eMERGE 4 sites, in this supplement, we propose leading phenotype development of three critical
COVID-19 phenotypes 1) myocarditis, 2) acute kidney injury, and 3) coagulopathy complications. Additionally,
we propose to facilitate studies of the full spectrum of COVID-19 disease including those with minimal or no
symptoms, which will motivate participation in eMERGE 4 among individuals who may have been at higher risk
to exposure to COVID-19. To achieve this, we will expand aim 2 of our parent eMERGE 4 application with the
following 2 aims: a) provide SARS-CoV-2 serological testing for IgG to all Northwestern participants
recruited into eMERGE 4 in year 1 of the award and b) facilitate SARS-CoV-2 serology testing and
genotyping of cohabitating family members of eMERGE 4 participants by mail.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10166110
- **Project number:** 3U01HG011169-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** REX L CHISHOLM
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $384,018
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-17 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10166110

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10166110, Northwestern Genomic Risk Assessment and Management Program (3U01HG011169-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10166110. Licensed CC0.

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