Major CIHR funding to map genetic risk factors for heart disease in diverse populations.
A research consortium led by investigators at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine has been awarded a $12-million grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to conduct the most comprehensive study of cardiovascular genomics ever undertaken in Canada. The five-year project, titled the Canadian Cardiovascular Genomics Initiative (CCGI), aims to identify genetic risk factors for heart disease across Canada's ethnically diverse population, with the goal of developing more precise and equitable approaches to cardiovascular prevention and treatment.
Heart disease remains the second leading cause of death in Canada, claiming approximately 70,000 lives each year. While significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of cardiovascular conditions, most existing studies have focused predominantly on populations of European ancestry. The CCGI will address this gap by recruiting 50,000 participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Indigenous, South Asian, East Asian, African, and Middle Eastern Canadians, to create a genomic dataset that reflects the true diversity of the country.
"Precision medicine cannot be truly precise if it only works for a subset of the population," said Dr. Ananya Krishnamurthy, the principal investigator and a professor of cardiovascular sciences at Temerty Medicine. "Our goal is to build a genomic resource that enables clinicians to assess cardiovascular risk accurately for all Canadians, regardless of their ancestry. This grant gives us the resources to make that a reality."
The consortium brings together researchers from 14 institutions across Canada, including the University Health Network, the Ottawa Heart Institute, the Montreal Heart Institute, and the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton. The project will leverage advanced whole-genome sequencing technology and machine learning algorithms to identify novel genetic variants associated with conditions such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension.
In addition to its research objectives, the CCGI includes a significant knowledge translation component. The consortium will develop clinical decision-support tools that integrate genomic data into routine cardiovascular care, and will work with policymakers to ensure that findings are translated into public health strategies. Dr. Krishnamurthy noted that the project also includes a dedicated training program that will support the next generation of cardiovascular genomics researchers, with funding for 20 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows over the life of the grant.
