Massachusetts General Hospital | Heart Center

Biography

Dr. Newton-Cheh is a cardiologist in the Heart Failure and Transplantation section of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Division and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He sees patients with advanced heart failure.

Dr. Newton-Cheh is a faculty member of the Center for Human Genetic Research and the Cardiovascular Research Center, where he co-directs the Human Cardiovascular Genetics Program.  He is a complex trait geneticist and cardiovascular epidemiologist. The Newton-Cheh laboratory is focused on the study of hypertension, sudden cardiac death and drug cardiotoxicity. We are leveraging the growth of human genetics to identify DNA sequence variants that contribute to these common diseases, to translate these genetic findings to an improved understanding of human physiology through patient-oriented research and to define the role of genetic variants, alongside other clinical risk factors, in risk prediction at the population level.

ResearchDr. Newton-Cheh is faculty member of the Center for Human Genetic Research and the Cardiovascular Research Center, where he co-directs the Human Cardiovascular Genetics Program.  Dr. Newton-Cheh is a complex trait geneticist and cardiovascular epidemiologist. The Newton-Cheh laboratory is focused on the study of hypertension, sudden cardiac death and drug cardiotoxicity. We are leveraging the growth of human genetics to improve our understanding of the following outcomes:

< level population the at prediction risk in role their define to and

QT interval & sudden cardiac death
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) claims 300,000 lives annually in the US and is influenced by genetic factors. Prolongation of the electrocardiographic QT interval is a risk factor for sudden cardiac death and is a life-threatening side effect of medications. We have identified novel genetic variants that contribute to variability of the QT interval and SCD.

Blood pressure & hypertension
Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) affects an estimated 1 billion people world-wide and contributes to the population burden of stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and chronic kidney disease. Until recently the genetic causes of variation in blood pressure in the general population have been poorly defined. We have identified blood biomarkers and common genetic variants that contribute to blood pressure and hypertension.

Publications

View my most recent publications at PubMed

Clinical research focus

MGH Hotline 06.12.09 At a time of unprecedented scientific progress and widening public support for clinical and translational research, young and mid-career investigators are faced with challenges of limited funding and competing personal and professional demands that cause many to abandon research careers, noted Janet Hall, MD, of the MGH Reproductive Endocrine Unit, at a May 28 panel discussion during MGH Clinical Research Day.

Common gene variants increase risk of hypertension, finding may lead to new therapies

A new study has identified the first common gene variants associated with an increased incidence of hypertension – a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

Common gene variants influence risk factor for sudden cardiac death

A new study has identified several common genetic variants related to a risk factor for sudden cardiac death. The report receiving early online release in the journal Nature Genetics identifies variants in genes, some known and some newly discovered, that influence the QT interval measured on the electrocardiogram (EKG) performed routinely in doctors’ offices.

International study identifies potential treatment targets for hypertension

Scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), as part of a major international research collaboration, have associated common variants in eight regions of DNA with blood pressure levels in human patients. Six of the identified regions have not previously been implicated in blood pressure regulation.

Biomarkers’ ability to improve prediction of cardiovascular risk is modest

Measurement of known biomarkers of cardiovascular disease slightly improves the ability to predict future heart attack or stroke in healthy individuals, but not enough to change preventive therapies.

International study identifies new gene targets for hypertension treatment

A new report from MGH scientists and colleagues around the world finds that common variants in 28 regions of DNA are associated with blood pressure in human patients. Most of the identified regions were completely unsuspected, and several may lead to a totally new class of hypertension drugs.