GLOBAL Design Manuscript Published in Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Genomics Group, LLC (G3) today announced the publication of the GLOBAL (Genetic LOci and the Burden of Atherosclerotic Lesions) Design manuscript, which describes the background, rationale, and design of the GLOBAL clinical study (NCT01738828). The GLOBAL study was conducted at 48 sites in the United States, Europe and Australia and enrolled approximately 7,500 subjects.

Published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, the GLOBAL Design manuscript proposes, via the GLOBAL study, that combining best-in-class next-generation pan-omics including whole genome sequencing (WGS), peripheral blood-based whole transcriptome sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and lipoprotein proteomics with advanced cardiovascular imaging for precision phenotyping in a large prospective study will yield novel insights into the biology of atherosclerosis, opening the door for novel biomarker and pharmaceutical target discovery.

In the study, G3 suggests that a comprehensive integrated solution is required to assemble a more complete biological network that explains atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD), and this solution is based on 3 fundamental pillars: (1) next-generation phenotyping or advanced imaging of atherosclerotic plaque, the root cause of CAD; (2) next-generation best-in-class pan-omics; and (3) systems biology-driven comprehensive bioinformatics.

As the first pillar, next- generation phenotyping can be achieved with advanced cardiovascular imaging, such as cardiovascular CT, because this modality can assess atherosclerotic plaque and coronary arterial stenosis noninvasively in a large population and has been validated extensively.

As the second pillar, G3 proposes that combining all relevant omics in a single prospective cohort of precisely phenotyped patients lays the foundation of creating more detailed and extensive, and even novel, biological networks of human atherosclerosis.

As the third pillar, the resulting high-dimensional data generated by such an approach requires a very rigorous and disciplined system-level bioinformatics approach to maximize true discoveries against a background of multiple testing. G3 estimates that the GLOBAL study will generate over 22 trillion data points, which will allow the systems biology-based bioinformatics approach to synthesize the data on several levels.

"Utilizing our next generation approach we have already identified significant, novel molecular signatures associated with atherosclerosis," said Szilard Voros, M.D., co-founder and CEO of G3. "We know that a more refined phenotype and a deeper understanding of the biology of diseases will allow us to elucidate previously unknown molecular pathways. We are thrilled that our early findings are confirming that."

There are several, significant, and unique aspects to the GLOBAL study. To the knowledge of G3, this is the single largest prospective study of cardiac CT study to date. GLOBAL is also one of the largest prospective WGS studies to date, as well as the largest pan-omic study of cardiovascular disease, in a very carefully phenotyped cohort.  

The goal of the GLOBAL study is to contribute to the fundamental understanding of atherosclerotic CAD and potentially bring diagnostic biomarkers and pharmaceutical solutions to patients.

Sekar Kathiresan, M.D., Director of Preventative Cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Institute Member of the Broad Institute, added "G3's GLOBAL project is a true scientific landmark in the deeper biological understanding of cardiovascular and cardio-metabolic diseases. To date, this is one of the most extensively characterized cardiovascular patient populations and will likely become one of the most influential cohorts, similar to the Framingham Study and others."

About the GLOBAL (Genetic Loci and the Burden of Atherosclerotic Lesions) Study

GLOBAL is the largest pan-omic study combining whole genome sequencing, whole genome methylation, whole transcriptome sequencing, unbiased proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics with coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography, an advanced imaging technology for phenotyping, which allows the prices classification of disease in patients.

The GLOBAL study (Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT01738828) is an international prospective, multi-center study recruiting up to 10,000 patients to characterize novel disease networks and biomarkers for coronary artery disease (CAD). The study is being funded by G3. Eligible patients undergo coronary CT angiography providing an accurate and detailed examination of the disease and disease status. This precision phenotyping is combined with pan-omic analysis and the data is then analyzed using specifically-developed systems biology-based bioinformatics technology for identification of diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.

About Global Genomics Group (G3)

G3 is a life sciences company investigating biological networks that lead to the development of disease to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. G3 combines precision phenotyping with pan-omics (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and lipoprotein proteomics) and bioinformatics to investigate the development and progression of conditions such as atherosclerosis in cardiovascular disease.

G3 Contact:

Idean Marvasty
[email protected] 
(404) 368-1554 
www.globalgenomicsgroup.com

SOURCE Global Genomics Group (G3)

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