PRoteomic profiling and Etiological understanding of VENous Thromboembolism (PREVENT)

Currently, there are no well-recognized biomarkers or modifiable risk factors for VTE, and the exact molecular mechanisms that trigger VTE are unknown. In this project, we aim to discover protein biomarkers that can predict risk of VTE at an individual level, identify modifiable risk factors for VTE, and reveal molecular mechanisms and pathways involved in venous thrombus formation. We will perform plasma proteome profiling in large population-based case-cohorts, and integrate extensive proteomics and genomics data to identify novel biomarkers for VTE and investigate how genes regulate protein levels to elucidate causal mechanistic pathways. We have unique access to high-quality population-based cohorts (Tromsø and HUNT studies) with plasma samples collected before VTE development and thorough assessment of VTE as outcome. Validated candidate proteins will be further tested in in vitro and in vivo model systems. Our integration of genomics and proteomics will add a completely new dimension to VTE research that has never been explored before, with a high potential for ground-breaking achievements.

Principal Investigator: John-Bjarne Hansen

External collaborators: Kristian Hveem, Therese H. Nøst, Christian Jonasson (HUNT Center for Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, NTNU), Aaron R. Folsom, Weihong Tang, Weihua Guan (University of Minnesota)

The Thrombosis Research Center (TREC) was supported by an independent grant from Stiftelsen Kristian Gerhard Jebsen (SKGJ-MED-012) during the establishment of this project.

The SOMAscan lab work was partly supported by the grant R01HL059367 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.