The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) has launched the Galveston Heart Study, a major new population health research initiative designed to follow thousands of Galveston County residents over many years to better understand how cardiovascular health, brain health, and aging intersect.
Led by the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute at UTMB, the long‑term study will become one of the largest and most inclusive cardiovascular research efforts in Texas.
Enrollment is underway to recruit 5,200 adults aged 30 and older during Phase 1 and ultimately 10,000 participants over the next decade.
“This is our signature research endeavor,” said Hani Jneid, MD, principal investigator of the Galveston Heart Study. “Our vision is to move beyond reactive cardiology toward a more predictive and preventive approach. By systematically measuring and tracking cardiovascular health, our aim is not only to generate meaningful scientific insights, but also to drive tangible improvements in the health of our community.”
A comprehensive look at heart health
Unlike many cardiovascular studies that focus only on heart disease, the Galveston Heart Study will examine:
- Cardiovascular heath metrics, risk factors and disease
- Brain‑health metrics
- Aging and frailty
- Social determinants of health
- Cardiac biomarkers (a measurable substance in blood that provides information about heart muscle injury, stress, or function), including innovative markers developed at UTMB
- Genotypes (specific genes a person carries, which can influence disease risk, response to treatment, or physical characteristics) and genetic risk
- Cardiac imaging and coronary calcium scores
- Preventive risk scores
“The study aims to examine cardiovascular health, brain health, and aging metrics in our county in a broadly representative patient population and to track those over time,” said Jneid, who is also director of the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute, John Sealy Distinguished Centennial Chair in Cardiology, and chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. “We will be studying heart health metrics, social determinants of health, coronary calcium scores, genotypes, cardiac biomarkers, cardiac imaging, and observing participants over years and hopefully decades.”
Enrollment is open to adults 30 and older, with no upper age limit
“Anybody in Galveston County will be eligible, whether they have heart disease or do not have heart disease,” Jneid said. “The wide range of participants is one major differentiator.”
UTMB research teams are currently enrolling patients in the university’s primary care clinics and other locations. A mobile clinical unit is being prepared to expand access to imaging and lab testing.
The study will capture real‑time insights about lifestyle, health behavior, and medical risk. The research will do more than expand scientific understanding.
“This study will improve regional and local health, but it will also generate science at the national level,” he said. “The patient cohort we identify will serve as a platform to identify research opportunities in other areas, especially those related to aging and brain health.”
Enrollment underway
For those interested in participating, contact the Galveston Heart Study coordinator at 409-281-6546 or by email at galvestonheart@utmb.edu.
Learn more about the Galveston Heart Study at UTMB.