To identify environmental factors and epigenetic modifications associated with hypertension prevalence in sub-Saharan African subjects;
To assess the causality of these associations using longitudinal data on changes in epigenetic and environmental factors and hypertension incidence;
To assess the influence of (change in) environmental factors to changes in epigenetic modifications;
To assess the contribution of epigenetic modifications, together with environmental factors, to differences in hypertension risk
between migrant and non-migrants (i.e. Europeans and sub-Saharan African compatriots living in Africa);
To use findings to inform targeted prevention, and to provide basis for improving hypertension diagnosis and treatment.
Beside these key objectives, the team will also study several health outcomes including cardiovascular diseases and other cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease and their determinants.