Research
Dr. Tracy’s lab is involved in a number of molecular and genetic epidemiological studies, as well as core laboratory work for many clinical trials, especially trials related to heart disease. Most recently his lab has been participating in large, multi-cohort genomic studies such as TOPMed (NHLBI’s Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program, which is part of the broader Precision Medicine Initiative; TOPMed contributes to this Initiative through the integration of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and other omics (e.g., metabolic profiles, epigenomics, protein and RNA expression patterns) data with molecular, behavioral, imaging, environmental, and clinical data), and MoTrPAC (Molecularlar Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium, the NIH Common Fund program designed to discover and perform preliminary characterization of the range of molecular transducers (the "molecular map") that underlie the effects of physical activity in humans). His lab houses a large Biological Specimen Repository with ~4,000,000 samples, in >170 -80C or –145C freezers. Dr. Tracy’s research interests include the interrelationships of coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammation, especially the innate and adaptive immune systems. He explores their roles in the etiology of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, insulin resistance and diabetes, HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and other complex disease settings, as well as more broadly in the process of aging. He has a long-standing interest in disease risk modeling and risk assessment as well as in developing new biomarkers for clinical and epidemiological research. He also collaborates on studies of murine models of atherosclerosis and non-human primate models of HIV infection and AIDS. Most recently his lab has engaged in numerous studies related to COVID-19, functioning as NHLBI’s Core Laboratory for the CONNECTS program (Collaborating Network of Networks for Evaluating COVID-19 and Therapeutic Strategies with the aim of helping prevent infection, slow or halt disease progression, and speed recovery).