# CHARGE consortium: gene discovery for CVD and aging phenotypes

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $676,646

## Abstract

Consortia of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have often organized around specific phenotypes
such as diabetes and breast cancer to discover associations with genetic variants. The Cohorts for Heart
and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium was instead formed from large-
population-based cohort studies to facilitate prospectively-planned GWAS meta-analyses of a wide range of
phenotypes. Expanded from the original 5 studies to 10, CHARGE cohorts have repeated measures of risk
factors, subclinical disease measures, and cardiovascular events, all collected in a standardized fashion.
Their collaboration represents a unique resource for identifying genetic loci associated with a variety of
cardiovascular and aging phenotypes. Since 2011, with funding from the CHARGE infrastructure grant
(HL105756), the consortium has thrived. Using GWAS and rare-variant data, CHARGE publications now
number more than 643, many in high impact journals. With funding from the NHLBI, NHGRI, and the NIA,
many of the CHARGE cohorts have recently obtained new genetic and omics data: 1) whole-genome
sequence (WGS) data on 39,819 subjects; 2) whole-exome sequence (WES) data on 28,346; 3)
methylation data on 16,083; 4) gene expression data on 12,133; 5) metabolomics data on 25,521; and 6)
aptamer-based proteomics data on 11,306. CHARGE and its 40 active Working Groups, which collaborate
and coordinate with NIH programs such as the NHLBI's Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine, are well
positioned to accommodate all three new directions in genetic epidemiology—large-scale collaborations,
genomic sequence data, and other omics data. New to this application are the CHARGE dbGaP Summary
Results Website for public posting of summary results, the Analysis Commons for pooled analyses of
sequence data and omics data, and the Mendelian Randomization Committee for analytic support with
these innovative methods. The goals of this competing renewal application are to accelerate discovery of
mechanisms underlying diseases of the cardiovascular system through robust analysis of genomic data and
to identify the functional significance of the discovered variants through integration of multiple forms of large
scale omics data. The aims of this competing renewal application are: 1) to provide coordinating center-like
administrative support for conference calls, working groups, committees, and meetings; 2) to organize two
major in-person meetings per year; 3) to provide travel awards for new investigators who submit the best
abstracts for presentations or posters at the CHARGE meetings; 4) to provide support for fellowship
exchanges for students, fellows and junior faculty to spend time working at another site on a CHARGE
project; and 5) to provide modest support for cohort participation. The consortium promotes widespread
collaboration. For junior investigators, the fellowship exchanges and travel awards also foster collaboration,
enhance the current science, and improve t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9977252
- **Project number:** 5R01HL105756-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Bruce M Psaty
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $676,646
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-02-15 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9977252

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9977252, CHARGE consortium: gene discovery for CVD and aging phenotypes (5R01HL105756-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9977252. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*