Genomics to Predict Risk of Coronary Artery Disease

It has long been known that there is a heritable component to coronary artery disease (CAD). However, identifying the actual genetic loci influencing CAD risk was not possible prior to recent advances in molecular biology that have facilitated the identification of genomic loci with statistically very strong, i.e., genome-wide significant, associations with CAD. Several previously unrecognized pathophysiological mechanisms have been discovered with high-throughput genotyping and the emergent exome and whole genome sequencing. Most of the novel genetic variants that modulate CAD risk do so by completely new mechanisms. However, the identification of the underlying pathophysiology is just beginning. Using the genetic variants affecting risk as a starting point, further investigations can help to identify druggable targets and thus improve prevention and therapy of the disease. Our goal is to aid in the fast evolution of this field of research. Using recent examples, we want to point to the opportunities in prevention and therapy due to the novel knowledge of genetic risk.