DNA Methylation, Preterm Birth and Blood Pressure in African American Children

项目摘要/摘要 维罗妮卡·巴塞罗那·德·门多萨博士是耶鲁大学护理学院博士后，也是全国 注册高级公共卫生护士。她将开始担任助理教授的终身教职 2017年7月开始在耶鲁大学护理学院跟踪。作为一名公共卫生护士和流行病学家。 巴塞罗那德门多萨在围产期和生殖健康方面有很强的临床和研究背景 健康差距。候选人建议扩大她的知识库，以包括遗传流行病学和 心血管基因组学通过参加遗传数据分析和培训课程和方案 数量遗传学。长期目标包括：(A)审查孕产妇/儿童健康方面的健康差距 从生命历程的角度来看，(B)利用表观基因组学方法减少生殖健康 (C)调查心血管健康、基因组学和生殖之间的关系 健康，关注生命历程。为了实现这些长期目标，巴塞罗那·德·门多萨博士建议 研究DNA甲基化、肥胖和早产与非裔美国人血压的关系 孩子们。拟议的项目将从正在进行的R01队列研究中招募参与者 基因组和环境应激源对非裔美国人母亲和 孩子们。该项目的具体目标是：(1)研究候选基因的dNaM如何介导 3-5岁非裔美国儿童中早产与血压的关系(2) 研究候选基因dNaM如何介导体重指数和血压之间的关联 以及(3)重复表观遗传学分析，以检查dNaM， 随时间推移(大约两年)PTB和BMI对BP的影响(探索性目标)。耶鲁大学提供了丰富的 为候选人进行这项研究提供支持性的研究环境。在优秀的指导下 Jackie Taylor博士(基因组学)、孙燕博士(统计遗传学)、Andrew Dewan博士(遗传流行病学)和Ann 库尔特(生殖健康)候选人将获得完成这一项目所需的支持。这 这项计划符合NINR的“健康：促进健康及预防疾病”的主题，以及 通过个性化医疗和基因组学促进创新的交叉领域。这些战略 在这个项目中，主题是通过调查健康的物理和环境原因来解决的 早产和心血管疾病作为一年内发病率和死亡率的主要贡献者的差异 高危种族/少数民族群体。候选人将在以前关于围产期健康差异的工作的基础上再接再厉 通过增加分子遗传学、遗传流行病学和数量遗传学的高级培训，扩大 通过这个镜头研究早产的公共健康问题。通过接受额外的培训 和出色的指导在这项建议中概述，巴塞罗那德门多萨博士将做好充分的准备 成功的独立调查员，以减少孕产妇/儿童健康差距。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Dr. Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza is a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale School of Nursing and a nationally certified Advanced Public Health Nurse. She will begin her appointment as Assistant Professor on the tenure track at Yale School of Nursing beginning July 2017. As a public health nurse and epidemiologist, Dr. Barcelona de Mendoza has a strong clinical and research background in perinatal and reproductive health and health disparities. The candidate proposes to expand her knowledge base to include genetic epidemiology and cardiovascular genomics through participation in courses and training programs in genetic data analysis and quantitative genetics. Long-term goals include (a) examination of health disparities in maternal/child health from a life course perspective, (b) utilization of an epigenomic approach in the reduction of reproductive health disparities, and (c) investigation of the associations between cardiovascular health, genomics and reproductive health, with a life course focus. In order to achieve these long-term goals, Dr. Barcelona de Mendoza proposes to study the associations of DNA methylation, obesity and preterm birth on blood pressure in African American children. The proposed project will recruit participants from an ongoing R01 cohort study examining the interaction between genomic and environmental stressors on blood pressure in African American mothers and children. The project's specific aims are to: (1) Examine how DNAm of candidate genes mediates the association between preterm birth and blood pressure among 3-5 year old African American children (2) Investigate how DNAm of candidate genes mediates the association between BMI and blood pressure in African American children, and (3) repeat epigenetic analyses to examine the association between DNAm, PTB and BMI on BP over time (approximately two years) (exploratory aim). Yale University provides a rich and supportive research environment for the candidate to conduct this study. Under the excellent mentorship of Drs. Jackie Taylor (genomics), Yan Sun (statistical genetics), Andrew DeWan (genetic epidemiology) and Ann Kurth (reproductive health), the candidate will receive the necessary support to complete this project. This project is in line with the NINR's key theme of “Wellness: Promoting Health and Preventing Illness”, and the cross-cutting area of “Promoting Innovation” through personalized medicine and genomics. These strategic themes are addressed in this project by investigating the physical and environmental causes of health disparities in preterm birth and cardiovascular disease as major contributors of morbidity and mortality within a high risk racial/ethnic minority group. The candidate will build upon previous work in perinatal health disparities by adding advanced training in molecular genetics, genetic epidemiology and quantitative genetics, expanding the lens through which to study the public health problem of preterm birth. By receiving the additional training and excellent mentorship outlined in this proposal, Dr. Barcelona de Mendoza will be well-prepared as a successful independent investigator to reduce maternal/child health disparities.