Shelley Cole, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Program Co-lead | Population Health
Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Dr. Cole studies the genetic risk for developing common, complex diseases. 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.
- Diseases: Metabolic syndrome; heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, kidney disease
- Applying molecular genetic techniques for medium and high- throughput collection of genetic information
- Identifying novel genetic risk markers in understudied population groups
A special focus of Dr. Cole’s work is on preserving and promoting the utility and potential of the Strong Heart Study as a national resource for research studies to ultimately reduce the prevalence and incidence of metabolic-related disease and to improve public health in general in the American Indian population. Dr. Cole has more than 25 years of expertise studying human genetics.