LEGACY Scientific Rationale

Scientific Rationale for the LEGACY Biobank Program

• ~70% of cardiovascular disease events are attributable to having multiple disease risk factors
  
  
• The Framingham Heart Study & others have been pivotal in identifying risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, these studies but are limited to circulating cells/plasma
  
  
• The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Genome Atlas with disease-relevant tissue has led to new discoveries connecting genetic changes that relate to cellular dysfunction using multiomics. This unique cancer resource has improved classification and outcome prediction for many cancers, and has helped lead to new therapies.
  
  
• Existing heart biobanks:
  
  
• • a) Lack adequate phenotyping of cardiovascular disease risk factors across the lifespan of the individual
    
    
  • b) Are restricted to heart conditions in which cardiac procedures are performed
    
    
  • c) Bereft of participant and tissue (often restricted to heart samples from sites not implicated in disease) diversity