The Etiology of HDL Cholesterol (“The Upenn High HDL Research Study”)

Name of Study: The Etiology of HDL Cholesterol (“The Upenn High HDL Research Study”)

Principal Investigator: Daniel J. Rader, MD

Subjects Enrolled: 2545 subjects in 1140 families as of October 21, 2009

What is HDL?

The letters HDL stand for high density lipoprotein. It is known as the “good cholesterol” because a high HDL level can protect against heart disease and stroke.

Overview: The purpose of this study is to identify genes that are associated with HDL and influence coronary artery disease. Data from blood samples and health histories of individuals with high HDL levels and their family members are used to assess the relationship between these genes and HDL cholesterol. The long term goal of investigating these genes is the development of new therapies to prevent coronary artery disease.

A note to people who have already participated and their families: If you have already provided a blood sample for this study since 1998, thank you very much! Your help is invaluable. If you have high HDL cholesterol, we are asking that you speak to your relatives who have not yet participated. We are interested in receiving samples from your parents, children and siblings. If a participant’s child also participated, or plans to participate, we would also like to receive a sample from the child’s other parent.

If it is possible to receive samples that would give us samples from two parents and at least one child, whether you are the child or one of the parents, your family’s participation would be especially valuable and welcome.

A note to potential new participants: If you and your family have NOT participated in the study, but you have been told you have high HDL (for example you are a man with an HDL value above 75 mg/dL or a woman with an HDL above 90 mg/dL) you may also be eligible to participate.

Contact Information: For more information about the study, or to arrange participation, contact the research coordinator:

Marjorie Risman
risman@mail.med.upenn.edu
local telephone number: 215-746-8342
toll free telephone number: 1-888-81HEART (1-888-814-3278).