# Association of Genetic Determinants of Diabetes with Cerebrovascular Disease in a Multi-ancestral Hawaiian Population

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 2024 · $273,875

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Research Project Leader: Stacy Brown, MD
Association of Genetic Determinants of Diabetes with Cerebrovascular Disease in Multi-Ancestral Hawai'ian
Populations
Global increases in prevalent
type 2 diabetes (T2D)
and cerebrovascular disease means that health systems
need to meet increasing demand for preventive and therapeutic interventions. In addition to traditional public
health efforts, innovative health systems are developing and beginning to offer precision medicine strategies
based on genomic information. However, genetically derived instruments for evaluating
T2D and
cerebrovascular risk
are based on genetic studies performed in populations of predominantly European ancestry.
For populations underrepresented in these derivation studies, the clinical yield of precision medicine strategies
is lower. In the Pacific Islands, epidemiologic research has already identified high rates of diabetes, obesity,
hypertension, and hyperlipidemia among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI), relative to other
residential populations. Strokes occur at younger ages and with higher mortality and morbidity in NHPI
individuals. Particularly in populations like NHPI who are already vulnerable to health and health system
inequities, ensuring representation in translational and clinical genetics research is paramount to efforts to
reduce population health disparities in the future. Our proposed work aims to tackle the knowledge gaps
described by comprehensively studying
the relationship between the genetic underpinnings of T2D and
 Our central hypothesis is that there is variation in the frequency of
important disease-associated polymorphisms across ancestral groups, and in particular in NHPI
compared to previously studied populations. To test this hypothesis, we will leverage the diverse
backgrounds of participants in the Multi-Ethnic Cohort (MEC) Study and global genotyping coverage of the
Population Architecture using Genomics and Epidemiology (PAGE) exomechip array. We will (1)
comprehensively evaluate the genetic architecture of diabetes and stroke risk in a population of Native Hawaiian
cerebrovascular disease in NHPI.
ancestry; (2) generate and systematically evaluate
polygenic risk scores for diabetes and other stroke risk
factors
in the Native Hawaiian cohort and other ethnic groups in the MEC and a predominantly European
database, UK Biobank; (3) explore the associations between
genetically determined diabetes and age at first
 . By identifying differences in the genetic contributions to
cerebrovascular disease in presently underrepresented populations, our study will generate results to
contextualize prospective research aimed to responsibly increase inclusivity of diverse populations in genetic
studies.
presentation of major cerebrovascular events

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10850471
- **Project number:** 2P20GM113134-06A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA
- **Principal Investigator:** Stacy C Brown
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $273,875
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10850471

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10850471, Association of Genetic Determinants of Diabetes with Cerebrovascular Disease in a Multi-ancestral Hawaiian Population (2P20GM113134-06A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10850471. Licensed CC0.

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