# Thrombosis genetics in African Americans

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $744,157

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, and
disproportionate rates are seen in minority African American populations. Thrombosis and
vascular inflammation are important contributors to atherosclerotic plaque rupture and vascular
occlusion that underlie myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, as well as venous
thromboembolic disease. The identification of novel biomarkers and their assessment in
different ethnic populations can augment the information obtained from traditional CVD risk
factors as well as illuminate underlying disease mechanisms and health disparities. While blood
biomarkers have been shown to be critically important in the study of CVD, there is a deficit of
studies of these measures in African American populations. Preliminary data suggest that
thrombin generation, as quantified ex vivo by plasma measurement of endogenous thrombin
potential (ETP) is a novel approach to understanding the connection of both the intrinsic and
extrinsic coagulation pathways to thrombus formation in vivo. Whole genome sequence (WGS)
data, including both coding and functional noncoding variants, are required to identify the full
spectrum of contributions of rare variants to common diseases. WGS data are particularly
important among non-European ancestry groups, where there is still relatively limited genomic
information. Using stored baseline Jackson Heart Study (JHS) plasma samples from 3,500
African Americans, we propose to measure several emerging thrombosis and inflammation
plasma biomarkers (endogenous thrombin potential, fibrinogen gamma', coagulation factors VIII
and VIIa, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, soluble CD14, and soluble CD163) that are likely to
reflect and/or account for increased thrombogenicity and therefore may contribute to higher
rates of CVD in African Americans. We will assess the association of thrombosis biomarkers
and biomarker-associated genetic variants with more complex subclinical and clinical CVD
endpoints available in JHS and other African American cohorts, including REGARDS. By adding
these key measures of thrombosis and inflammation to the JHS and REGARDS data sets,
utilizing existing whole genome sequence data available through the NHLBI TOPMed project,
and using innovative analytical and population genetic approaches, we will be able to greatly
expand our knowledge of the role of thrombosis and inflammation in CVD health disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9912811
- **Project number:** 5R01HL132947-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Leslie A Lange
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $744,157
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-04-20 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9912811

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9912811, Thrombosis genetics in African Americans (5R01HL132947-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-03 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9912811. Licensed CC0.

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