Shelley  Cole, Ph.D.

Dr. Cole studies the genetic risk for developing common, complex diseases. She collaborates on genetic studies of minority population groups that have very high rates of metabolic and other diseases yet are traditionally under-represented in genetic and medical research.

• Diseases: Metabolic syndrome; heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, kidney disease
• Applying molecular genetic techniques for medium and high- throughput collection of genetic information
• Identifying novel genetic risk markers in understudied population groups

A special focus of Dr. Cole’s work is on preserving and promoting the utility and potential of the Strong Heart Study as a national resource for research studies to ultimately reduce the prevalence and incidence of metabolic-related disease and to improve public health in general in the American Indian population. Dr. Cole has more than 25 years of expertise studying human genetics.

• Research & Grants

  Dr. Cole’s lab studies the genetic risk for developing common, complex diseases. She collaborates on genetic studies of minority population groups that have very high rates of metabolic and other diseases yet 

  are traditionally under-represented in genetic and medical research, especially when looking at how genetic risk factors affect disease and are modified according to ancestral backgrounds and environmental risk factors. Studies mainly use a family-based study design with multigenerational pedigrees, providing rich datasets for identification 

  of rare and population-specific inherited effects. Previous and ongoing research has generated molecular genetic data using samples from these population group.

  Diseases Associated: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease 

  Techniques Used: genomics, epigenetics, transcriptomics, genetic analysis, quantitative genetics

  Sub Field of Study: health disparities