The latest trend in medical research and healthcare is "individualized medicine" - using our ever-expanding knowledge of human genetics and cells to tailor treatments and medications to each individual’s genetic makeup. On Oct. 22-23, 2007, a research team from Mayo’s Mobile Clinical Research Unit will visit the campus of Winona State University (WSU) to draw small blood samples that will be used for genotyping, or determining the DNA sequence of particular genes of interest, such as the gene that encodes a major receptor responsible for blood pressure control.
"Genotyping studies like this are a crucial first step in learning how the genetic makeup we each inherited from our parents affects our body’s reaction to outside stimuli," says Dr. John Eisenach, a Mayo Clinic physician and principal investigator of the study. "Research has shown that even small genetic variations can alter a person’s basic physiology, including how the heart and blood vessels respond to stress and other stimuli. By comparing the genotypes (genetic makeup) of large numbers of people and correlating them with their bodies’ reactions to stressors, we hope to eventually improve our ability to predict who may be more susceptible to health problems such as cardiovascular disease or hypertension."
This event represents the second visit by this team of Mayo researchers. Last spring, 175 WSU students participated in this study, with one-third of participants qualifying for additional studies because their genotype matched the study requirements. The information obtained through those initial blood samples was invaluable, according to Dr. Eisenach. "This study and others like it will help us determine the importance of gene variation in heart and lung function. The results of these studies will ultimately contribute to advances that help predict, prevent or treat cardiovascular disease, one of the leading causes of illness and death in America."