Genetics studies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), play an increasingly important role in physiology and pathophysiology studies of cardiovascular disease. Listen as Deputy Editor Dr. Carol Ann Remme interviews authors Prof. Jeanette Erdmann (University of Lübeck, Germany) and Prof. Connie Bezzina (Amsterdam University Medical Center, Netherlands) about their latest Review in Physiological Reviews by Walsh et al. GWAS are aimed at identifying genetic variants for specific traits, and it is essential to study genetic variants in order to understand an individual’s susceptibility to develop specific diseases. Understanding the genetic basis of a disease can lead to identification of therapeutic targets for clinical intervention. Listen as these experts discuss how GWAS can be applied to study both rare disorders, for example Brugada Syndrome, as well as common disorders such as myocardial infarction. The possibilities are numerous for GWAS, including the identification of novel pathophysiological insights into cardiovascular disease mechanisms, as well as (future) development of clinically applicable polygenic risk scores. Listen now to learn more.

Roddy Walsh, Sean J. Jurgens, Jeanette Erdmann, and Connie R. Bezzina Genome-wide association studies of cardiovascular disease Physiological Reviews, published April 18, 2023. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00024.2022