SIBS-Genomics: Systematic Investigation of Blacks with Stroke-Genomics

The goal of SIBS-Genomics is to discover, validate, and functionally characterize novel genetic variants associated with ischemic stroke in people of African ancestry. Led by Dr. Mayowa Owolabi at University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Nigeria, SIBS-Genomics will leverage several NIH-funded initiatives in the US and Africa to employ a multi-stage approach to validate and functionally annotate genetic variants previously reported in Americans using data from continental Africans. Furthermore, discovery of novel variants will be sought in continental Africans and validated in African Americans (71% of whom migrated from West Africa), and Americans of diverse ancestries will be included in trans-ancestry meta-analyses. This unique transomics study will provide new information on molecular mechanisms of stroke essential to the development of strategies to reduce stroke-related  disability and death in the US, especially in African Americans for whom the burden of stroke remains disproportionately high, and worldwide. 

Location: USA and Africa

BALANCE Investigators: Bruce Ovbiagele, MD, MAS