R01HL155864

Cardiovascular Health Trajectories from Birth through Adolescence in a Diverse Cohort of Children - Abstract

The overarching goal of this proposal is to identify cardiovascular health (CVH) trajectories from birth through age 20 among a diverse cohort of 7,000 children and their families who already have clinical phenotyping. To achieve this, we will add detailed behavioral data and follow them longitudinally.

Using an innovative study design for a pragmatic cohort, utilizing technology-enabled data collection, we will recruit a diverse cohort of children from a city-wide electronic health record (EHR) system in Chicago. Parents and children will complete a developmentally appropriate and clinically feasible set of online surveys and questionnaires to assess behaviors and lifestyles. These will be linked with their EHR data, which is already being used in a prior study.

After two years, we will reassess each child's CVH. Our innovative Accelerated Longitudinal Study Design (ALD) will allow us to define CVH and create trajectories for a diverse group of children from birth through age 20, all within the five years of this grant. These trajectories will then be used to create a novel "CVH Growth Curve" ready for use in clinical practice.

Our team has the unique expertise to complete this study, including already having the EHR data for children across Chicago, expertise in cohort recruitment and retention, as well as inclusion of leading experts in studying CVH among children.

The findings from this study will be critical in targeting prevention strategies to high-risk children and critical periods during the life course in order to prevent the loss of CVH in childhood and preserve and promote CVH across the life course. We will develop a clinical tool, CVH Growth Curves, that can be directly translated into clinical care and will inform prevention efforts.

Our specific aims are as follows:

Specific Aims:

1. Identify CVH trajectories from birth to young adulthood within a diverse cohort of participants (N=7,000) across the city of Chicago.

2. Identify predictors of CVH trajectories from birth to young adulthood within a diverse cohort of participants, including a broad range of markers of resilience and vulnerability.

3. Develop an accurate and generalizable cardiovascular health growth curve for use in clinical care to target prevention to children at high risk of declining CVH and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Northwestern University

TO FOSTER HEART AND VASCULAR RESEARCH IN THE BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, CLINICAL AND POPULATION SCIENCES, AND TO FOSTER TRAINING TO BUILD TALENTED YOUNG INVESTIGATORS IN THESE AREAS, FUNDED THROUGH COMPETITIVE RESEARCH TRAINING GRANTS. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, USE SMALL BUSINESS TO MEET FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PERSONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE-SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH COOPERATIVE R&D BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL R&D.

93.837 - Cardiovascular Diseases Research

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) [HHS - NIH]

Illinois United States

State-Wide

Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-19-056)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 03/31/25 to 03/31/26 and the total obligations have increased 360% from $747,653 to $3,438,228.