Characterisation of allele-specific regulatory elements and identification of causal non-coding SNPs related to CHD and CHD risk traits
In this Intermediate Basic Science Fellowship Dr Andrew Smith from University College London will study regions of our DNA to find out why coronary heart disease often runs in families. We know that there are regions of our DNA that are linked to heart disease, but it’s not fully understood how they might increase the risk of disease. Most of these regions occur outside of genes in so-called 'junk DNA'. Dr Smith and colleagues believe these regions may control the amount of protein that is produced from genes. He will identify how these regions could predispose people to heart disease by studying heart cells in the laboratory. He will use new techniques to see if junk DNA variants influence the functions of nearby genes, and which tissues they affect. By finding out more about the way our genetic makeup relates to heart disease, Dr Smith hopes to improve the way we identify people predisposed to heart disease. This research could also identify new drug targets for prevention and treatment.
Project details
| Grant amount | £427,856 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Fellowships |
| Application type | Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship |
| Start Date | 01 June 2013 |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Reference | FS/13/6/29977 |
| Status | Complete |
