Dr Iftikhar J Kullo: Top Kashmir Doctor Nominated To US Genome Research Council – Brighter Kashmir

Srinagar born and Government Medical College (GMC Srinagar) MBBS pass out and now top Kashmiri American cardiologist Dr Iftikhar J Kullo has been nominated to the National Advisory Council on Human Genome Research (NACHGR) that the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) runs. The orders were issued by Xavier Becerra, Joe Bidens Secretary of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Dr Iftikhar will be part of the council till September 30, 2024. The NACHGR advises the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), on genetics, genomic research, and training and programs related to the human genome initiative. Besides, the NACHGR performs second-level peer review for grant applications and determines the programme priorities for NHGRI and the goals for the governments efforts in the International Human Genome Project (HGP). I am honoured to serve on the National Advisory Council on Human Genome Research. Genomics is transforming biomedical research and Im excited to have the opportunity to advise on the discovery and implementation aspects of genomic medicine to improve outcomes for our patients, Dr Kullo has said after his appointment to the National Advisory Council on Human Genome Research. The main research interest of Iftikhar J. Kullo, M.D., is in biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Through his Atherosclerosis and Lipid Genomics Laboratory, Dr. Kullo is investigating the use of new methodologies in refining cardiovascular risk stratification. These include genetic markers, circulating biomarkers, and noninvasive tests of arterial function and structure. Focus areas Genetics of arterial plaques (atherosclerosis). Dr. Kullo's lab uses family history studies, linkage studies, candidate gene association studies, genome-wide association studies and genome sequencing to study the genetic basis of atherosclerosis. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Dr. Kullo's laboratory is engaged in several projects related to FH, including the use of electronic phenotyping for rapid ascertainment of FH from electronic health records (EHRs), use of EHR-based strategies to improve outcomes in patients with FH, assigning pathogenicity to variants identified from sequencing of FH-related genes and investigating the pleiotropic effects of FH-related genes. Implementing genomic medicine in the EHR. Dr. Kullo's laboratory conducts clinical trials in genomic medicine, such as the recently concluded Myocardioal Infarction Genes (MI-GENES) study, which assessed the effect on LDL cholesterol of disclosing a genetic risk score for coronary heart disease based on 28 susceptibility variants. Another project is investigating the clinical utility of a genetic risk score composed of susceptibility variants for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Genomic discovery using EHRs. Dr. Kullo and collaborators are working with the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network to develop better ways to use EHR-linked biorepositories for large-scale genomic research. Proteomic markers for vascular disease. Dr. Kullo's team studies the connections between novel protein markers and measurable traits of vascular disease, such as coronary artery calcium, cerebral leukoaraiosis, albuminuria and ankle-brachial index, with the goal of identifying new proteomic markers for vascular disease. Arterial stiffness and ventricular arterial interactions. The laboratory is investigating the clinical utility of measures of arterial stiffness such as aortic pulse wave velocity and characteristic impedance. The research team is also studying the association of arterial stiffness on measures of left ventricular function including longitudinal strain and diastolic function. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The laboratory is engaged in clinical investigation related to PAD, including epidemiology of symptomatic PAD, the genetic bases of PAD and alterations in arterial function in patients with PAD. Vascular diseases biorepository. Dr. Kullo's lab is creating a vascular diseases biorepository containing DNA, serum, plasma and cell line samples from volunteers with common vascular diseases including carotid artery stenosis, aortic aneurysm and peripheral arterial disease and rare vascular traits, including fibromuscular dysplasia.

Atherosclerotic vascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the U.S. Often, the first manifestation is myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or sudden death. Currently available risk-prediction algorithms are suboptimal when it comes to predicting such adverse outcomes in asymptomatic individuals. The main focus of Dr. Kullo's laboratory is to improve the ability to predict adverse cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals using genetic susceptibility markers, circulating biomarkers and measurements of arterial function.

Dr Kullo serves as a Professor of Medicine and Science, and a Consultant in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Gonda Vascular Center at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota. He is the head of the Atherosclerosis and Lipid economics Laboratory and a chairperson of the Cardiovascular Genomics Task Force. Dr Kullo has incessantly been funded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) since 2003. He is a Principal Investigator in the NHGRIs eMERGE and PRIMED consortia. Dr Kullo did his MBBS in the Government Medical College, Srinagar in 1987. Formerly, he has been a Resident of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, and Chief Resident at Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar. He did his internship in Internal Medicine at Nassau County Medical Center, State University of New York. Subsequently, Dr Kullo remained as a Resident in Internal Medicine at Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education. He, later, joined as Clinician-Investigator Program and fellow at Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. The major focus of his research is the genetic basis of Coronary Heart Disease, the implementation of Genomic Medicine, and the biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Dr Kullo investigates the use of new methodologies in refining cardiovascular risk stratification. Utilizing his Atherosclerosis and Lipid Genomics Laboratory, Dr Kullo investigates the use of new methodologies in refining cardiovascular risk stratification. These include genetic markers, circulating biomarkers, and noninvasive tests of arterial function and structure. Dr Kullos laboratory emphasizes the improvement of the facility to predict adverse cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals using genetic susceptibility markers, circulating biomarkers, and measurements of arterial function. In his laboratory, he intensively studies the Genetics of arterial plaques (atherosclerosis), Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), and Implements genomic medicine in the EHR, Genomic discovery using EHRs, Proteomic markers for vascular disease, Arterial stiffness, and ventricular arterial interactions, Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and Vascular diseases biorepository.

Read the original here:
Dr Iftikhar J Kullo: Top Kashmir Doctor Nominated To US Genome Research Council - Brighter Kashmir