Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Coronary heart disease is a disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries. Heart disease is often fatal and continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the developed world. Prevention and treatment strategies for heart disease present an important aspect of health research and have the potential to benefit millions of Canadians. We are seeking to identify new and easily measurable risk factors for heart disease. Preliminary results show that genetic variation in mitochondrial genes may present new ways to identify, and ultimately treat, heart disease. Currently, little is known about the connection between mitochondrial DNA variation and heart abnormalities. We have collected blood and health information from over 30,000 individuals, over age 45, to further determine the connection between mitochondrial gene variations and heart disease. Ultimately, if we are able to recognize this genetic variant as a risk factor for heart disease, we will have identified a new and easily measured metric for early diagnosis. This also presents the possibility for new prevention strategies. If we can improve the accuracy of risk calculations for heart disease, and in particular if we can do so years before a heart attack takes place, unnecessary treatment will be avoided and lives could be saved. This in turn saves Canadians valuable health care dollars. If a genetic risk factor can be found years before a serious heart event takes place, it will allow for early intervention and treatment strategies towards the reduction of this devastating and often fatal disease.