Genomics of cardiometabolic disease: contributions of Mexican research groups

Understanding the genetic architecture of complex disease has helped identify at risk individuals, new pathways involved in pathophysiology, and potential pharmacological targets for prevention and/or treatment. Thus, the identification of susceptibility variants of Native American or Mexican origin can potentially benefit any patient, regardless of ethnic origin. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the most relevant contributions of Mexican researchers to knowledge on genomics of cardiometabolic disease in the Mexican population, including ethnic-specific variants and population genomics studies, stressing the importance of evolutionary approaches in understanding complex disease. Collaborative efforts and large long-term cohort studies including genomic, multi-omic, fine phenotyping and environmental exposure data are necessary to identify the clinical relevance of these variants and how they interact with the environment, in order to apply this knowledge to personalized medicine.