PhD Bioinformatics Lab Rotation (1 credit), Directed Study, or MS Bioinformatics Project available: “An analysis of NMR profiles to Identify Cardiovascular Risk Biomarkers”

This is a joint project with Dr. Alan T. Remaley at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and PhD Bioinformatics student Tiange Cui.

 Cholesterol is transported in blood by different classes of lipoproteins, which differ in their association with cardiovascular disease (CVD).  Cholesterol on low density lipoproteins (LDL) is positively associated with CVD because when in excess it is deposited in the vessel wall where it causes atherosclerosis.   In contrast, cholesterol on high density lipoproteins HDL is inversely related to CVD because is believed that HDL promotes the removal of excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues and delivers it to the liver for excretion.  By monitoring the NMR signal from the terminal methyl group one can determine both the quantity and size of the different major and minor classes of lipoproteins and provides the most detailed analysis of lipoproteins. We are looking for students who are interested in using the latest tools in cluster analysis and other related techniques to develop a classification system of lipoprotein phenotypes to determine whether it can be used for assessing cardiovascular risk.  Data from 5000 participants in the Multi Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis will be used for the analysis. Students in this project will gain experience in complex data analysis form large data sets and will the basics of lipoprotein metabolism and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the use of cardiovascular biomarkers.   A high level of motivation, persistence, and a general understanding of basic statistics will be required.

For more information please email Dr. Ancha Baranova, [log in to unmask]

Dr. Ancha Baranova

Associate Professor and 

the Director for the Center for the Study of Chronic Metabolic Diseases

School of Systems Biology

College of Science

George Mason University 

4400 University Dr

David King Hall MSN3 E1

Fairfax VA 

USA

Phone: 1-571-334-1145

cscmd.cos.gmu.edu