Themistocles L. Assimes, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Stanford University

Research Description: Our investigative focus is the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of human molecular epidemiology studies of complex cardiovascular disease (CVD) related traits, with a key interest in the effects of metabolic health and obesity. While we have focused on the study of coronary atherosclerosis, a condition that causes heart attacks, the number one cause of death worldwide, and risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis, we also examine many other traits related to cardiovascular disease. In addition to performing discovery and validation of population genomic studies, we use contemporary genetic studies to gain important insight into the causal and mechanistic nature of associations between purported risk factors and adverse cardiovascular-related health outcomes through instrumental variable analyses and genetic risk score association studies of intermediate phenotypes. Our group is also actively involved in studies assessing the clinical utility of novel genetic markers in isolation or in combination with other biomarkers. Lastly, we communicate the significance of genomic findings at the population level to molecular biologists who may lack a strong background in human genetics as well as human geneticists who lack a strong background in clinical medicine. Our group's broad translational knowledge base allows us to serve as a key collaborator in multidisciplinary investigative groups involved in the design and interpretation of important functional experiments that will shed light on the biology behind these new genetic associations, as well as clinical trials the will help further delineate the utility of genomics in clinical practice. Separating markers for CVD from fundamental drivers of obesity is a major concern. Dr. Assimes has research collaborations with other NORC members, including Drs. Tsao, Stefanick Knowles, Quertermous, and Ashley.