CURRENT PROJECTS

Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Risk Study (R01 HL158100)

The Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Risk study aims to evaluate how cardiovascular changes during pregnancy, such as changes in lipids and cardiac output needed to support the developing infant, affect women’s cardiovascular health in middle age. This study will re-enroll 350 NGHS women who are not more than 1 year post-menopausal for a single study visit. The visit, to take place at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, will include updates on health status and reproductive health, a blood draw for assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and ovarian reserve, and non-invasive cardiovascular imaging to assess heart and blood vessel health. Data from births will be requested, and stored blood samples will also be used to evaluate changes in cardiovascular risk across the lifespan. Participants will be paid for their time.

In-person study visit includes:

  • Standard clinic measurements (e.g., height, weight, blood pressure)

  • Blood draw for glucose, insulin, reproductive hormones and specialized research assays

  • Cardiovascular imaging (heart structure/function, vascular stiffness, atherosclerosis)

  • Body composition imaging (fat mass, lean mass, bone density using DXA)

Status: Currently enrolling

Click here if interested


I3C DECADE: Disparities and Equity in Childhood Cardiovascular Exposures and Alzheimer's Dementia (R01 AG077497)

The DECADE study aims to evaluate how childhood cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, obesity or lipids, may impact adult brain health, and how this might differ by race or socioeconomic status. This study will re-enroll participants from three different longitudinal studies, including 500 NGHS women, for a single study visit. The visit, to take place at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati Neuroimaging Center, will include updates on health status, a blood draw for assessment of cardiovascular risk factors and markers of brain health, non-invasive cardiovascular imaging to assess heart and blood vessel health, and a brain MRI to understand brain structure and function. Participants will be paid for their time.

In-person study visit includes:

  • Standard clinic measurements (e.g., height, weight, blood pressure)

  • Blood draw for glucose, insulin, lipids and specialized research assays

  • Cardiovascular imaging (heart structure/function, atherosclerosis)

  • Brain MRI (brain structure and function)

  • Cognitive assessments

Status: Currently enrolling

Click here if interested


Healthy Aging Study (R21/R33 AG057983)

The Healthy Aging Study is a two-phase project consisting of infrastructure development (R21) and pilot study testing (R33) phases. The goal of the R21 was to develop and enhance the infrastructure for three cohorts included in the i3C Consortium: The Bogalusa Heart Study, the NHLBI Growth and Health Study, and the Princeton Lipid Research Study. Each study was responsible for conducting an inventory of the existing biorepository, study data and documentation, as well as enhancing these data through geocoding and harmonization of existing data. The R33 goals are to evaluate the feasibility of and validate methods for collecting aging-related health and cognitive data using a “Virtual Clinic” consisting of devices or online applications mailed to participants’ homes. These data will be compared with assessments conducted in a research clinic setting to validate the use of such devices for future epidemiologic studies. Participants will be paid for their time.

Phase 1: Cognitive function interview with one of our coordinators and online questionnaires

Phase 2: 1 week “Virtual Clinic” with health devices and an in-person study visit, which includes:

  • Standard clinic measurements (e.g., height, weight, blood pressure)

  • Blood draw for glucose, lipids, and specialized research assays

  • Cardiovascular imaging (vascular stiffness, heart electrical function [EKG])

  • Body composition and resting metabolic rate.

Status: Enrollment is closed. Thank you!