The Quertermous Laboratory

The Quertermous laboratory is interested in the molecular mechanisms that mediate vascular disease pathophysiology and the risk for these diseases. The approach is primarily genetic, using human cohorts and large scale genome wide studies to identify genes that associate with disease and risk, and molecular genetic studies to define the mechanisms of these associations. At the human level, we collaborate with a number of centers around the world through the CARDIoGRAM+C4D consortium to further identify coronary heart disease loci, and our group serves as the the organizing center searching for loci that associate with gold standard measures of insulin sensitivity, the GENESIS study. For loci identified through these studies, we work to identify mechanisms by which causal variation is responsible for altered gene structure or function, and employ cellular and genetic mouse models to identify how encoded factors participate in the disease process. One novel approach to understanding the link between genes and human disease is employing induced pluripotent stem cells to create disease relevant cell types in vitro that can be studied in relationship to the subjects' phenotype and genetic architecture.