Although many genome-wide association studies (GWAS), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), omics, and polygenic risk score (PRS) efforts are underway, there is still a notable gap in leveraging diversity to empower discovery and improve our understanding of genotypic and phenotypic architecture across all populations. The Population Architecture through Genomics and Environment (PAGE) Study aims to help fill this gap. Currently the PAGE study focusses on analyzing multi-omics data jointly with genetics data, and on developing polygenic risk scores.

The Women’s Health Initiative Strong and Healthy (WHISH) is a trial within the large Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Extension Study, which, was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in 2015. It is testing whether increasing physical activity (e.g. moving more, sitting less) will reduce heart disease and stroke in older women. 

Women's Health Initiative (WHI)

The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) is a long-term national health study funded by the NHLBI. The original WHI study began in the early 1990s and concluded in 2005. Since 2005, the WHI has continued as Extension Studies, which are annual collections of health updates and outcomes in active participants. The second Extension Study enrolled 93,500 women in 2010 and follow-up of these women continues through another extension that will conclude in 2020. NHLBI intends to fund the next Extension Study for the follow-up of WHI participants through 2027.

NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine Whole Genome Sequencing Program (TOPMed)

The Trans-Omics for Precision (TOPMed) program, sponsored by the NHLBI, is part of a broader Precision Medicine Initiative, which aims to provide disease treatments tailored to an individual’s unique genes and environment. TOPMed contributes to this Initiative through the integration of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and other omics (e.g., metabolic profiles, epigenomics, protein and RNA expression patterns) data with molecular, behavioral, imaging, environmental, and clinical data.