phs002194
NHLBI TOPMed: Integrative Genomic Studies of Heart and Blood Related Traits in Africans (Africa6K)
The majority of genomic studies of cardiovascular and blood related traits have focused on non-African populations. However, Africa is an extraordinarily important region to study as (1) it is the site of origin of modern humans, (2) it contains the greatest levels of human genetic variation, (3) it is the source of the diaspora of Africans into the Americas, (4) Africans and African Americans have a high incidence of certain blood disorders such as sickle cell disease, and (5) some common complex diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity are more prevalent in people of African descent and are increasing in frequency in urban regions of Africa. Further, differences in diets, climate, and exposure to pathogens among ethnically and geographically diverse African... (for more see dbGaP study page.)