Overview

Understanding the genetics of heart disease is the next major frontier for cardiovascular medicine. Knowledge of relevant genes and their function will provide immediate benefits to individuals as cardiac risk profiles for populations are established. It will enable targeted prevention and treatment and will potentially result in new diagnostic tests and new therapies.

The John & Jennifer Ruddy Canadian Cardiovascular Genetics Centre is the first comprehensive Cardiovascular Genetic Centre dedicated to both the research and clinical management of inherited cardiovascular disease in Canada.

The Centre identified the strongest genetic risk factor for coronary artery disease and heart attack found to date (the 9p21 locus). Our work into the molecular function of this gene variant continues.

The Centre is home to the Genetic Analysis Core Facility which provides specialized equipment and technical expertise to researchers throughout the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.