Publication alert: "Relationships Among Obesity, Inflammation, and Insulin Resistance in African Americans and West Africans"
The CRGGH focuses on a number of diseases but maintains a significant focus on projects aimed at diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. In an advance online publication in the journal Obesity, Dr. Ayo Doumatey was the lead author on the study titled: "Relationships Among Obesity, Inflammation,and Insulin Resistance in African Americans and West Africans." Dr. Doumatey et al observe significant associations between obesity and insulin resistance and inflammation, for example.
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The importance of informed consent in developing countries.
Fasil Tekola, M.P.H., our pre-doctoral trainee (see the July 2nd post), published last week in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases an important qualitative study focused on the process of informed consent in developing countries (available here). This study was part of a larger project, which aims to determine the genetic basis of susceptibility to podoconiosis using a validated clinical staging system for the disease and, of course, an appropriately designed consent process. This work highlights an important component of research carried out here at the CRGGH. Mr. Tekola's work is also recently highlighted in Wellcome Trust's July 31st edition of Science Policy and Related News (SPIN).
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Genetic variants linked to hypertension and blood pressure in African Americans
CRGGH researchers and collaborators led by our center's Scientific Director, Dr. Adeyemo, published last week findings from a genome-wide association study of hypertension and blood pressure in African Americans. This study, to our knowledge, is the first of its kind despite African Americans disproportionately affected by hypertension. Six authors on the study are CRGGH members that contributed to this important research that could ultimately translate to new and better treatment options in African Americans and other populations globally.
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CRGGH Welcomes New and Returning Trainees!
In furthering our commitment to trainees (see #5--http://crggh.nih.gov/mission.cfm), we welcome Fasil Tekola (photo on the right), a returning pre-doctoral student (Mr. Tekola is a trainee at the CRGGH in six-month intervals) and Keolu Fox (photo on the left), a summer intern. Mr. Tekola comes to us from Ethiopia by way of the UK and Mr. Fox comes to us from the University of Maryland. We're excited to have these two promising young scientists and we look forward to a productive summer and beyond. Check out their bios below to get to know them a little better.
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Commentary in BMC Medical Genomics
Center Director, Dr. Rotimi and I have published a commentary in BMC Medical Genomics, which discusses the role genetics and genomics can play in the context of health disparities. Titled “The A’s, G’s, C’s, and T’s of Health Disparities”, Dr. Rotimi and I illustrate the utility of genetics research in providing necessary and critical information to diseases and treatments. We also discuss the tremendous impact social factors and environmental forces can have in influencing health disparity diseases. One of the major points of the commentary was that “individuals cannot be treated as a representative for all those who physically resemble them or who share in some of their ancestry”.
