ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT06535542Updated Mar 25, 2025

Integrating Whole Genome Sequencing and Digital Twins Into the Management of Hypercholesterolemia in Emiratis

An interventional study of Whole Genome Sequencing in Hypercholesterolemia, Autosomal Dominant, Hypercholesterolemia, Autosomal Recessive and Familial Combined Hypercholesterolemia, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company. Recruiting at 1 site in United Arab Emirates. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 55 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-03-25.

Sponsored by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Dec 2025, 10 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Jul 2024; still recruiting 2 years 3 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 55 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This pilot study investigates integrating whole genome sequencing and digital twin technology for managing hypercholesterolemia in Abu Dhabi clinics. It aims to establish protocols for larger future studies and incorporate genomic insights into routine medical care.

Read the detailed description

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death in the Middle East, with hypercholesterolemia being a significant contributor. Genetic mechanisms of hypercholesterolemia in this region are not well understood. Autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia is a major factor, yet only \~7% of Emiratis with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have these mutations. In 2013, Talmud et al. identified common variants through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that suggest a polygenic cause for hypercholesterolemia in mutation-negative FH patients. A polygenic risk score based on 12 SNPs was validated in White European populations and is used in the UK's NHS diagnostic pipeline. Distinguishing polygenic hypercholesterolemia from FH without genetic testing is challenging. These patients exhibit familial moderate hypercholesterolemia and early coronary heart disease, with elevated LDL-C, normal triglycerides, and no tendon xanthoma. Their cardiovascular risk is similar to monogenic FH with age.

Statins, though commonly prescribed for ASCVD prevention, can cause musculoskeletal symptoms leading to poor adherence, discontinuation, elevated cholesterol, and increased cardiovascular risk. Many patients fail to achieve target LDL-C levels due to suboptimal dosing. Certain gene variants increase the risk of statin side effects.

This study seeks to integrate whole genome sequencing (WGS) technology in a clinical setting through an innovative digital twin platform. This platform allows clinicians to assess monogenic and polygenic risks in real-time and make informed statin prescribing and management decisions.

02

Conditions studied

  • Hypercholesterolemia, Autosomal Dominant
  • Hypercholesterolemia, Autosomal Recessive
  • Familial Combined Hypercholesterolemia

Keywords

  • LDH
  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia
  • Whole Genome Sequencing
  • Digital Twins
  • Management of Hypercholesterolemia
  • Emirati
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Sanger Sequencing
  • Predictiv Care
  • Genomic Medicine
  • Precision Medicine
  • Pharmacogenomics
03

In context

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II

249 studies on the registry are indexed under Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; 56 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 134 across 178 interventional studies indexed under Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II.

Browse Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II studies →

Lead sponsor

Abu Dhabi Health Services Company is the lead sponsor of 9 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 55 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with 2 or more LDL-C levels greater than 190 mg/dL or 5.0 mmol/L in the past 12 months
  • Undiagnosed patients meeting Possible, Probable or Definitive FH criteria according to Dutch Lipid Clinic Network (DLCN) criteria (Eur Heart J. 2011 Jul;32(14):1769-818. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehr158. Epub 2011 Jun 28.)
  • Patients who have not been on anti-lipidemic medication in the past 3 months
  • Ages 18-55
  • Emirati national
  • All patients must be fluent in English or Arabic

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

    • Patients who do not meet the above criteria
  • Patients with a previous diagnosis of FH
  • Patients with a progressive debilitating illness
  • Patient with untreated hypothyroidism, history of proteinuria, obstructive liver disease, chronic renal failure, infection, or on or or psychiatric medications
  • Patients with untreated clinical anxiety or depression (as measured by a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score of ≥ 16 on the depression subscale)
  • Patients who are pregnant
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Diagnostic
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
40 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    WGS + Digital Twin Group

    20 participants who are randomized to have whole-genome sequencing performed on their sample and given access to Predictiv™ Digital Twin. These participants will meet with a genetic counselor for results disclosure and training to access the Predictiv™ Digital Twin platform.

    Genetic: Whole Genome Sequencing

  • No intervention
    Standard of Care Group

    20 participants who are randomized to not have whole-genome sequencing performed on their sample. These participants will have standard-of-care familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) evaluation using medical history and family history only. They will not receive genetic results or Predictiv™ Digital Twin results as part of this study.

Interventions

  • GeneticWhole Genome Sequencing

    Participants in this arm will have their blood sample analyzed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and will be given access to Predictiv™ Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based digital twin platform, a web-based interactive application with WGS results. The platform will include positive monogenic and polygenic Familial Hypercholesterolemia results and pharmacogenomics results on statins and clopidogrel. A report of positive monogenic variants will be included in their medical record. This may also include genes on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) secondary findings (SF) version 3.2 list if the participant consents to receive these incidental findings. The report will only include pathogenic, likely pathogenic, and variant of uncertain significance (VUS) results.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Diagnostic capabilities

    Diagnostic yield of standard-of-care (based on medical and family history) versus whole genome sequencing (WGS) for identifying monogenic and polygenic familial hypercholesterolemia.

    Time frame: From consent date until first documented report, up to 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Prognostic capabilities of standard-of-care

    Prognostic capabilities of standard-of-care (based on medical and family history) versus whole genome sequencing for predicting outcomes and management in monogenic and polygenic familial hypercholesterolemia.

    Time frame: Baseline to End of Study, up to 12 months

  2. Resources Implementation for WGS in a clinical setting

    Assessed by documenting resources necessary for each phase, including execution of WGS, reporting of results, and overall evaluation,

    Time frame: Baseline to End of Study, up to 12 months

  3. Participant characteristics

    Age, sociodemographic, personal and family history

    Time frame: Baseline

  4. Change in Perceived Utility

    Assessed using novel participant surveys via questions including: attitudes towards DNA testing and results, understanding of results, change in expectations, confidence, concerns.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-disclosure of results (approximately 2-3 months after enrollment), 6 months post-enrollment

  5. Changes in Health Care Utilization

    Assessed by reviewing medical records comparing number of services and procedures received related to the diagnosis.

    Time frame: Baseline to End of Study, up to 12 months

  6. Clinician Attitudes About WGS

    A self-built survey was created to assess physicians' perspective and attitude toward WGS

    Time frame: Baseline

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Abu Dhabi Health Research Center
    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
    Recruiting
    • Salah Eldin HM Hussein, MD · Contactsahussein@seha.ae · 0504485852
    • Antoniette C Cano, BSc · Contacto-acano@seha.ae · 0558873919
    • Ali H Muwaili, MD · Sub investigator
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Hsieh HF, Shannon SE. Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qual Health Res. 2005 Nov;15(9):1277-88. doi: 10.1177/1049732305276687. PubMed 16204405 ↗
  • Wang J, Dron JS, Ban MR, Robinson JF, McIntyre AD, Alazzam M, Zhao PJ, Dilliott AA, Cao H, Huff MW, Rhainds D, Low-Kam C, Dube MP, Lettre G, Tardif JC, Hegele RA. Polygenic Versus Monogenic Causes of Hypercholesterolemia Ascertained Clinically. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2016 Dec;36(12):2439-2445. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.116.308027. Epub 2016 Oct 20. PubMed 27765764 ↗
  • Futema M, Bourbon M, Williams M, Humphries SE. Clinical utility of the polygenic LDL-C SNP score in familial hypercholesterolemia. Atherosclerosis. 2018 Oct;277:457-463. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.06.006. PubMed 30270085 ↗
  • Talmud PJ, Shah S, Whittall R, Futema M, Howard P, Cooper JA, Harrison SC, Li K, Drenos F, Karpe F, Neil HA, Descamps OS, Langenberg C, Lench N, Kivimaki M, Whittaker J, Hingorani AD, Kumari M, Humphries SE. Use of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol gene score to distinguish patients with polygenic and monogenic familial hypercholesterolaemia: a case-control study. Lancet. 2013 Apr 13;381(9874):1293-301. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62127-8. Epub 2013 Feb 22. PubMed 23433573 ↗
  • Rimbert A, Daggag H, Lansberg P, Buckley A, Viel M, Kanninga R, Johansson L, Dullaart RPF, Sinke R, Al Tikriti A, Kuivenhoven JA, Barakat MT. Low Detection Rates of Genetic FH in Cohort of Patients With Severe Hypercholesterolemia in the United Arabic Emirates. Front Genet. 2022 Jan 3;12:809256. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.809256. eCollection 2021. PubMed 35047021 ↗
  • Bamimore MA, Zaid A, Banerjee Y, Al-Sarraf A, Abifadel M, Seidah NG, Al-Waili K, Al-Rasadi K, Awan Z. Familial hypercholesterolemia mutations in the Middle Eastern and North African region: a need for a national registry. J Clin Lipidol. 2015 Mar-Apr;9(2):187-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2014.11.008. Epub 2014 Nov 29. PubMed 25911074 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Data requests can be submitted 9 months after article publication, and the data will be made accessible for up to 12 months. Extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Supporting information: Statistical analysis plan, Clinical study report

Time frame: 9-12 months

Access criteria: Qualified researchers engaged in independent scientific research can request access to trial IPD, which will be provided following the review and approval of a research proposal and Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) and execution of a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA). For more information or to submit a request, please contact mhy-lanie@predictivcare.com.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started Jul 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2025, 16 months after the start.

Of 35 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II, half reached primary completion within 37 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 51. This study's planned 16 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 37 studies reached it within 29 months; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 41.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jun 28, 2024
First posted
Aug 2, 2024
StartActual
Jul 29, 2024
Primary completionEst.
Dec 15, 2025
CompletionEst.
Jul 15, 2026
Last update
Mar 25, 2025
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 25, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06535542
Lead sponsor
Abu Dhabi Health Services Company
Collaborators
Predictiv Care, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 2, 2024
Start date
Jul 29, 2024
Primary completion
Dec 15, 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 15, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 25, 2025

Study contacts

Alina Naeem, MBBS
Contact
alnaeem@seha.ae
+97124102534
Mhy-Lanie Adduru, MD
Contact
mhy-lanie@predictivcare.com
+14088311991
Abdulmajeed BS Alzubaidi, MD
principal investigator · Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. -SEHA
Erik J Koornneef, PHD
study director · Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. -SEHA
Mhy-Lanie Adduru, MD
study director · Predictiv Care, Inc.
Salah Eldin HM Hu, MD
study chair · Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. -SEHA

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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