This proposal describes a 5-year training program to facilitate the transition to an independent academic position. The principal investigator has completed 4 years of post-doctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles, and now, will expand upon his scientific skills by developing an integrative career development program consisting of both a rigorous research plan and detailed career development plan. This program will further develop several unique integrative genetics approaches to cardiovascular disease. Aldons J. Lusis will continue to mentor the principal investigator's scientific development. Dr. Lusis is a recognized leader in mouse genetics and has made several significant contributions to the understanding of atherosclerosis and lipid biology. More importantly, Dr. Lusis has successfully trained a number of investigators who have become independent academic scientist. Cardiovascular disease, CVD, remains the leading cause of death in the United States accounting for almost 1 million deaths in 2002 and an estimated economic impact in excess of 393 billion dollars in 2005. There remains limited understanding of the genes predisposing a person to death from CVD. The primary aim of this proposal is designed to use a high-resolution mapping approach recently developed in out laboratory to identify genes associated with both atherosclerotic lesion size and cellular composition. Several of these novel variants will be investigated after the trainee transitions to an independent position. In addition to gene identification, several experiments are described that characterize and test a genetic network associated with lesion size in a model of advanced atherosclerosis in the mouse.
The third aim tests a novel candidate for a novel metabolite associated with atherosclerosis. The methods and analyses used in Aims 2 and 3 are the basis for gene selection and validation of novel targets identified in Aim 1 as the candidate transitions to an independent position. A long-term goal of studies proposed in this application is the identification of novel therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease by using a systems genetics approach where mouse genetics is integrated with gene expression, small molecule metabolite profiling and extensive atherosclerotic lesion phenotyping.

Public Health Relevance

to Public Health: Identifying novel genes regulating atherosclerotic plaque size and composition will discover key targets for developing new therapies for atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and stroke.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
4R00HL102223-02
Application #
8436419
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Carlson, Drew E
Project Start
2012-04-16
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2012-04-16
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$248,752
Indirect Cost
$75,487
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Bennett, Brian J; Davis, Richard C; Civelek, Mete et al. (2015) Genetic Architecture of Atherosclerosis in Mice: A Systems Genetics Analysis of Common Inbred Strains. PLoS Genet 11:e1005711
Hartiala, Jaana; Bennett, Brian J; Tang, W H Wilson et al. (2014) Comparative genome-wide association studies in mice and humans for trimethylamine N-oxide, a proatherogenic metabolite of choline and L-carnitine. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 34:1307-13
Albright, Jody; Quizon, Pamela M; Lusis, Aldons J et al. (2014) Genetic network identifies novel pathways contributing to atherosclerosis susceptibility in the innominate artery. BMC Med Genomics 7:51
O'Connor, Annalouise; Quizon, Pamela M; Albright, Jody E et al. (2014) Responsiveness of cardiometabolic-related microbiota to diet is influenced by host genetics. Mamm Genome 25:583-99
Smallwood, Tangi L; Gatti, Daniel M; Quizon, Pamela et al. (2014) High-resolution genetic mapping in the diversity outbred mouse population identifies Apobec1 as a candidate gene for atherosclerosis. G3 (Bethesda) 4:2353-63
Ghazalpour, Anatole; Bennett, Brian J; Shih, Diana et al. (2014) Genetic regulation of mouse liver metabolite levels. Mol Syst Biol 10:730
Bennett, Brian J; de Aguiar Vallim, Thomas Q; Wang, Zeneng et al. (2013) Trimethylamine-N-oxide, a metabolite associated with atherosclerosis, exhibits complex genetic and dietary regulation. Cell Metab 17:49-60
Rau, Christoph D; Wisniewski, Nicholas; Orozco, Luz D et al. (2013) Maximal information component analysis: a novel non-linear network analysis method. Front Genet 4:28
Davis, Richard C; van Nas, Atila; Bennett, Brian et al. (2013) Genome-wide association mapping of blood cell traits in mice. Mamm Genome 24:105-18
Parks, Brian W; Nam, Elizabeth; Org, Elin et al. (2013) Genetic control of obesity and gut microbiota composition in response to high-fat, high-sucrose diet in mice. Cell Metab 17:141-52

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications