iPSC Resources
FHS Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Resources
FHS iPSC lines
The FHS has partnered with Boston Medical Center and Boston University’s Center for Regenerative Medicine (CReM) to make FHS iPSC lines available to investigators. The CReM is a premier stem cell, developmental biology and regenerative medicine research center. The CReM and its iPSC Core maintain a state-of-the-art repository of frozen iPSC lines derived by CReM investigators and accessible to Boston University and external researchers.
This collaboration prioritized deriving iPSC lines from FHS diversity cohorts (Omni 1 and Omni 2). Samples were selected for broad scientific utility, with emphasis on conditions aligned with NHLBI priorities—particularly heart, lung, and blood disorders. Targeted phenotypic groups include cardiovascular conditions involving arrhythmia or cardiomyocyte/vascular dysfunction, pulmonary diseases affecting structure or function, and blood disorders with a suspected genetic basis.
Please see CReM iPSC Catalog Home Page for details on the iPSC Core and available FHS iPSC lines.
In order to receive FHS iPSC lines from the CReM, a research application must be submitted to and approved by the FHS. You can begin your FHS Research Application here.
NHLBI Next Generation Genetic Association Studies (Next Gen) Collection
This collection, from Dr. Chad Cowan (formerly of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute), was generated to use induced pluripotent stem cells to study cellular pathophysiology and to assess the functional consequences of identified genomic variants.
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 34 FHS participants (Offspring cohort, Exam 9; or Omni I cohort, Exam 4) were reprogrammed into iPSC lines. At the time of deposit, 17 participants were homozygous for the major haplotype at the 1p13 locus and 17 were homozygous for the minor haplotype. Two clones per donor were expanded, yielding 68 iPSC lines in total. These lines were generated to differentiate into hepatocytes and adipocytes to assess the effect of the 1p13 rs12740374 variant on cardiometabolic disease phenotypes using transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling. Donor ages range from 51–90 years; an age range is provided to protect participant identity.
Please see the publication describing this collection of cell lines for additional information on these cell lines including:
- 1p13 Genotype
- Average Adipocyte Differentiation Efficiency
- Average Hepatocyte-like Cells (HLC) Differentiation Efficiency
This set of 68 iPSC lines created under the Next Gen initiative are also available through WiCell, another recognized world leader in pluripotent stem cell banking and characterization. Please see WiCell for more information on ordering FHS iPSC lines there.
Available PBMCs for iPSC Creation
The Framingham Heart Study also maintains cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 5,908 participants (Offspring Exam 9; Omni 1 Exam 4; Gen 3 Exam 3; Omni 2 Exam 3). These PBMCs are available for iPSC generation with an approved FHS research application.
To support selection of PBMCs for iPSC derivation, the tables below summarize key participant demographics at the time of PBMC collection and the availability of OMICS data for these participants.
Table 1. Key demographics on available FHS participant PBMC samples *
| VARIABLE | OFFSPRING | NOS | GEN3 | OMNI1 | OMNI2 |
| TOTAL N* | 2258 | 51 | 3031 | 289 | 279 |
| FROM EXAM | 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| MEAN AGE AT DRAW | 70.52 | 73.71 | 54.17 | 66.04 | 53.94 |
| MIN AGE AT DRAW | 46 | 60 | 32 | 44 | 32 |
| MAX AGE AT DRAW | 96 | 93 | 83 | 88 | 89 |
| % FEMALE | 54.52 | 50.98 | 53.38 | 59.17 | 55.2 |
| % HISPANIC | 0.22 | 1.96 | 0.23 | 35.29 | 41.94 |
| RACE GROUP | % | % | % | % | % |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0.58 | – | 0.63 | 0.35 | 0.36 |
| Asian Indian or Pacific Islander | – | – | – | 1.73 | – |
| ASIAN | 0.09 | – | 0.13 | 23.53 | 26.52 |
| BLACK | 0.22 | – | 0.10 | 37.72 | 25.45 |
| WHITE | 98.27 | 98.04 | 98.71 | 1.38 | 2.15 |
| HISPANIC ETHNICITY | 0.22 | 1.96 | 0.23 | 35.29 | 41.94 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific | – | – | – | – | 0.72 |
| NOTGIVEN | 0.62 | – | 0.20 | – | 2.87 |
Table 2. Availability of OMICS data in FHS participants with PBMC samples*
| FHS OMICS DATA | N |
| TOPMed METABOLOMICS | 5434 |
| TOPMed METHYLATION | 5404 |
| TOPMed PROTEOMICS | 4713 |
| TOPMed RNASEQ | 4493 |
| TOPMed WGS | 4897 |
| EXPRESSION DATA | 4437 |
| APOE GENOTYPE | 5586 |
| GWAS DATA | 5658 |
*the information may not be fully up to date as some samples may be have been used