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Cardiovascular BioResource Studies

This website explains a series of research studies involving healthy volunteers.

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Studies

A summary of the current Cardiovascular BioResource Studies underway and what’s involved in each study for those who volunteer to take part.

CADBIO Study

CADBIO – Molecular investigation of genetic factors in CArdiovascular Diseases using a BIOresource of healthy volunteers

This study aims to help understand how our genes affect our risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading global cause of death. Studies involving hundreds of thousands of people have identified subtle changes in the DNA code of our genes that contribute to our risk of cardiovascular disease. The challenge ahead is to understand exactly how these changes or ‘gene variants’ affect disease risk and to translate this knowledge into new treatments. The CADBIO study investigates the role of three gene variants that affect cardiovascular disease risk, called PROCR, PNPLA3 and EDNRA.

  1. The PROCR sub-study aims to demonstrate a link between the PROCR gene variant and coronary disease and venous thrombosis by measuring a range of clotting factors in blood and looking at biological markers of inflammation.
  2. The PNPLA3 sub-study focuses on the PNPLA3 gene in the development of fatty liver disease and coronary disease. We study exactly how the PNPLA3 gene variant affects the processing of fats in response to a high-carbohydrate dietary challenge.
  3. The EDNRA sub-study investigates the role of the EDNRA gene in coronary artery disease by measuring changes in the contraction of arteries in volunteers.
What does the study involve?
  • Healthy volunteers who are part of the NIHR Cambridge BioResource will be invited to the one of the three sub-studies based on their genotype of the gene of interest (i.e. PROCR, PNPLA3 or EDNRA).
  • They will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their medical history, demographic and lifestyle factors.
  • We will measure their height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure.
  • The following details are specific to the individual sub-studies:
PROCR sub-study
  • Volunteers will attend an appointment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
  • They will be asked to donate one blood sample of 50 ml, which is around eight teaspoons.
  • We may ask volunteers not to eat in the 12 hours before their visit. This includes caffeine-containing products and alcohol.
PNPLA3 sub-study
  • Volunteers will attend two appointments at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The first visit will take approximately 3.5 hours and the second visit approximately 4 hours.
  • During the first visit, we will take a blood sample of 25 ml (four teaspoons) and volunteers will be given an energy-balanced dinner and a drink of ‘heavy’ water. The heavy water is required for the accuracy of the blood tests to be carried out in visit 2.
  • On the day after the first visit, we will take one blood sample of 25 ml. Then, volunteers will be provided with a high carbohydrate/low-fat breakfast, and receive several drinks of heavy water at 1-hour intervals until the study visit has ended.
EDNRA sub-study
  • Volunteers will attend an appointment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. This visit will take approximately 3 hours.
  • A medical professional will measure blood flow in both forearms by injecting a low level of an active substance that will stimulate the blood vessels in the arm. This is a safe and minimally-invasive procedure where the active substances will act locally at the forearm and not the rest of the body.
  • We will assess cardiac output by measuring the volume of blood being pumped by the heart before and throughout the infusion period. This method sends a low level of electrical current around the body, but volunteers will not feel it. This will be done a few times during the study visit.
  • We will take two blood samples of a total of 50 ml, which is around eight teaspoons, one before and one after the infusion period.
Study progress

The CADBIO study is funded to take place over five years from May 2017–November 2023.

PROCR sub-study: 52 volunteers (recruitment completed)

PNPLA3 sub-study: 14 volunteers (recruitment paused)

EDNRA sub-study: 13 volunteers (recruitment paused)

All recruitment is via NIHR BioResource Cambridge Centre.

Study documents
  • Research Protocol
  • Participant Information Sheet for the PROCR, PNPLA3 or EDNRA sub-studies
  • Informed Consent Form for the PROCR, PNPLA3 or EDNRA sub-studies

Funding and ethics
  • The study has been funded by the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund at the University of Cambridge, NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, and the Cambridge BHF Centre of Research Excellence.
  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge are the joint sponsors for this study (Reference: A094273).
  • This study has been reviewed and was given a favourable opinion by the East Midlands – Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee (Reference: 17/EM/0028).

GENBIO Study

GENBIO – Molecular investigation of GENetic factors in cardiovascular and immune-related traits and diseases using a BIOresource of healthy volunteers

This study aims to help understand how certain genes influence our risk of cardiovascular disease and related conditions. The GENBIO study measures a range of molecular and cellular biomarkers in blood. The properties of the markers are then linked to specific changes in the DNA code that are known to associate with a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. The study hopes to improve understanding of cardiovascular diseases and help in the search for new treatments. The GENBIO study investigates the role of a gene variant that influences a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, called SWAP70. We also study in detail the GMPR gene that may play a role in anaemia.

What does the study involve?
  • Healthy volunteers who are part of the NIHR BioResource will be invited to the one of the two sub-studies based on their genotype of the gene of interest (e.g. GMPR or SWAP70).
  • Volunteers will attend an appointment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
  • They will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their medical history, demographic and lifestyle factors.
  • We will measure height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure.
  • We ask volunteers to donate one blood sample of 50 ml, which is around eight teaspoons.
  • We may also ask volunteers not to eat in the 12 hours before their visit, including caffeine-containing products and alcohol.
Study progress

The GENBIO study is funded to take place over five years from March 2018–November 2023.

GMPR sub-study: 29 volunteers (recruitment completed)

SWAP70 sub-study: 6 volunteers (recruitment ongoing)

All recruitment is via NIHR National BioResource.

Study documents
  • Research Protocol
  • Participant Information Sheet
  • Informed Consent Form
Funding and ethics
  • The study has been funded by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.
  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge are the joint sponsors for this study (Reference: A094653).
  • This study has been reviewed and was given a favourable opinion by the Wales Research Ethics Committee 6 (Reference: 17/WA/0397).

AADBIO Study

AADBIO – Clinical investigation of genetic variants associated with Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection using a BIOresource of healthy volunteers

This study aims to identify how certain genes affect our risk of aortic disease, a life-threatening health condition that affects the largest artery in the body. Discovering the genetic mechanisms that predispose healthy individuals to the condition will help identify targets for new treatments. We hope the AADBIO study will inform the development of better approaches for preventing or managing the disease.

What does the study involve?
  • Healthy volunteers who are part of the NIHR BioResource will be invited to the study based on their genotype.
  • Volunteers will attend an appointment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
  • They will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their medical history, demographic and lifestyle factors.
  • We will measure their height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure.
  • They will be asked to give one blood sample of 80 ml, which is around twelve teaspoons. We will use stem cell technology to turn the blood cells into smooth muscle cells, which are a major component of the blood vessel wall. This will allow us to study the behaviour of these cells in people with and without the gene of interest.
  • Where possible, we will take an image of the thoracic aorta using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a non-invasive imaging technology.
Study progress

The study is planned to take place over five years from summer 2021. Recruitment will be via NIHR BioResource.

Data from the NIHR BioResource Rare Diseases Aortic Disease project will also contribute to the study.

Funding and ethics
  • This study will be reviewed by the appropriate Research Governance and Ethics Committees.
  • It will be primarily funded by the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge.
  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge will be the joint sponsors for this study.

The Cardiovascular Bioresource Studies are established by the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge and began recruiting participants in 2018. They are jointly sponsored by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge.

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