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Genetic markers
Our study of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and hereditary lipid disorders encompasses family history, linkage studies, candidate gene-association studies, genome-wide association studies and genome sequencing.
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Circulating biomarkers
Our biorepository has thousands of samples of DNA, serum and plasma that are linked to data in the electronic health record, helping drive discovery of new biomarkers and refine risk estimates for vascular disease.
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Assays of arterial function
Our research on arterial function and ventricular-arterial interactions includes studying siblings with hypertension and the use of speckle tracking echocardiography, arterial tonometry and arterial load-analysis software.
Overview
Under the leadership of principal investigator Iftikhar J. Kullo, M.D., the Atherosclerosis and Lipid Genomics Laboratory focuses its research efforts on better understanding the genetics of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm, and on hereditary lipid disorders, including familial hypercholesterolemia.
Dr. Kullo and his research team are engaged in ongoing research studies related to genomic discovery and the implementation of genomic medicine that leverages the electronic health record, including finding solutions to overcome barriers to using the electronic health record.
Our laboratory investigates circulating biomarkers and assays of arterial function as a means of refining cardiovascular risk estimates. Our work also is addressing substantial gaps in knowledge about the prevalence, awareness and control of familial hypercholesterolemia.
We created and maintain a biorepository for such common vascular diseases as peripheral artery disease, aortic aneurysm, carotid artery stenosis and fibromuscular dysplasia. The biorepository includes DNA, serum and plasma samples, and thousands of participants have been genotyped by high-density arrays. The biorepository plays a significant role in enabling research into vascular disease biomarkers, promoting understanding of the biology underlying atherosclerosis, and accelerating the implementation of individualized medicine.
About Dr. Kullo
Dr. Kullo is a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
Dr. Kullo graduated from the Government Medical College in Srinagar, Kashmir, India, and completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiology at Mayo Clinic. He joined the faculty of Mayo Clinic in 1999.
In addition to heading the Atherosclerosis and Lipid Genomics Lab, Dr. Kullo is the co-director of the Early Atherosclerosis Clinic and the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Clinic and he leads the Cardiovascular Genomics Task Force at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Kullo has published widely on the genetic basis of atherosclerotic disease, and on cardiovascular genomic discovery and implementation using the electronic health record. Dr. Kullo is involved in the education of medical students and residents and in continuing medical education programs through the Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development.
Research in Dr. Kullo's Atherosclerosis and Lipid Genomics Lab is funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and other organizations.