Cole Lab

Dr. Cole studies inherited risk for developing cardiometabolic and related diseases (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, kidney disease) in human population and family-based studies. She collaborates on genetic studies of minority population groups that have very high rates of metabolic and other diseases yet are traditionally under-represented in genetic and medical research. Dr. Cole has more than 30 years of expertise studying human genetics. Her lab’s approach is to apply molecular genetic techniques for medium and high- throughput collection of genetic information with a goal of identifying novel genetic risk markers in understudied population groups.

Dr. Cole also co-leads efforts in the Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) to genetically characterize the three colonies of non-human primates (NHP). The approach uses genome-wide genetic data to assess inbreeding and genetic diversity to inform breeding strategies and promote colony health, and to provide genomic information to increase the value of the models for research.