Genetic variation in 9p21, dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease risk
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Canadians and expected to claim nearly 65 000 lives in 2015. Approximately 75% of these deaths are preventable by having a healthier lifestyle, including a better diet. Another risk factor is having a family history of heart
disease, mainly because of inherited genetic risk factors. A healthy diet is twice as effective to reduce heart disease in people with high-risk genes. The aim of this project is to find the best diet to reduce risk of heart disease in people with high-risk genes compared to others.
The partner organization, Nutrigenomix Inc., is a genetic testing company specialized in developing test kits for personalized nutrition. The company will benefit from this research by commercializing a genetic test panel specifically for cardiovascular disease risk. This test will
allow healthcare providers to offer customized diets based on their clients’ genetic risk of cardiovascular disease.
David Jenkins
Nutrigenomix Inc
Life Sciences
Professional, scientific and technical services
University of Toronto
Accelerate