Systems Biology Project

Title CARDIS: Chemical exposure and risk of cardiovascular disease in adults

Principal Investigator Professor Tamara Galloway

Collaborators Professor David Melzer (Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry), Professor David Grainger (University of Cambridge), Professor Nick Wareham (University of Cambridge), Professor Kay-Tee Khaw (University of Cambridge)

Summary Man-made endocrine disrupting chemicals have been linked to cardiovascular disease risk. Of particular concern is bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used chemical found in polycarbonate plastic, to which the majority of the general population is exposed. Epidemiological evidence so far linking BPA to cardiovascular disease is cross-sectional and from self-reported diagnoses.

Using two key epidemiological resources we aim to establish whether higher BPA exposure is associated with angiography defined coronary artery disease, and to establish whether BPA concentrations are prospectively associated with incident coronary artery disease.

The Metabolomics and Genomics in Coronary Artery Disease (MaGICAD) study is designed to improve the identification of patients most at risk of coronary heart disease and provides angiography data and 5 year follow-up for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) is a population study of 25,639 adults investigating connections between diet, lifestyle and chronic diseases.

The plan of work will include analysis of statistical associations between measured BPA metabolite concentrations in urine samples from MaGICAD nd EPIC and key health endpoints, identification of correlates of higher BPA exposure and an exploration of mechanisms of effect.

Funding body British Heart Foundation

Timescale 2010 to 2012