Samoan Obesity, Lifestyle and Genetic Adaptations Study Group (OLaGA)
In Sāmoan, ōlaga (pronounced /ˈoːlaŋa/) means life.
The Obesity, Lifestyle, And Genetic Adaptations Study Group uses a life course approach to understand the origins of obesity among Samoans and other Pacific Islanders and focuses on developing culturally relevant interventions to reduce the burden of obesity and obesity-related conditions.
Goals of the Research Group
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To conduct epidemiologic research that will serve as the evidence base for developing interventions to prevent obesity
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To develop and rigorously test novel intervention approaches targeted at early life prevention of obesity and associated cardiometabolic disease
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To enhance community partnerships for local and regional capacity building
OLaGA @ Pitt
At the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, our team of genetic epidemiologists, statistical geneticists, public health geneticists, biostatisticians and molecular biologists collaborates with researchers at Yale University, Brown University, the University of Cincinnati, the National University of Samoa, the Samoan Ministry of Health, and the non-profit Lutia i Puava ‘ae Mapu i Fagalele.
Nestled in and contextualized by the interdisciplinary approach of the multi-institutional Study Group, our team seeks to understand the genetic determinants of obesity and concomitant cardiometabolic disease among Samoans and the interactions of those genetic factors with environmental, behaviorial and social determinants of health.
Current research team members and team alumni.
‘Aiseā mātou te su‘esu‘eina ai kenera?
‘O le su‘esu‘ega o kenera pē mafai e kenera o tagata ona fa‘amatala le ‘ese‘esega i o lātou uiga. I a mātou su‘esu‘ega, ‘o lo‘o mātou va‘ava‘ai ai i le suiga o kenera e mafai ai ona fa‘amatala pē ‘aiseā e māfua ai ona tino puta isi tagata ‘ae lē maua ai isi. ‘O le soifuaga mālōlōina e tāua tele i le puipuiga ‘o le tino puta, peita‘i ‘o kenera e fesoasoani tele lea i lo mātou mālamalama pē ‘aiseā e tino puta ai isi tagata.
Our hope is that ultimately this research will come to benefit the Samoan people in Samoa, American Samoa and worldwide through
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Translation of improved understanding of the underlying biology into interventions;
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The identification of population-specific genetic determinants and prevalences or gene–environment interactions that would inform precision public health efforts;
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Building research capacity within Samoan communities; and
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Outreach to, education and empowerment of, and collaboration with Samoan communities about the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic research, genetic testing and genetics-informed interventions.
Projects currently funded by the National Institutes of Health:
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Integrated Cellular, Mouse and Human Research on a Novel Missense Variant Influencing Adiposity in Samoans
NHLBI · R01HL093093
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Next Generation Association Studies of Adiposity in Samoans Enhanced by a Samoan-Specific Whole Genome Sequence Reference Panel
NHLBI · R01HL133040
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Examining Genetic Literacy and Capacity for Engagement in Genetic Research among Pacific Islanders
NHLBI · R01HL133040 S1
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Impact of the Obesity-Risk CREBRF p.Arg457Gln Variant on Energy Expenditure, Intake, and Substrate Utilization in Samoans
NHLBI · R01HL140570
Gratitude
We would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the Samoan government, particularly the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development; the Office of the Prime Minister; and the Samoa Bureau of Statistics for their continued support of this work.
We would especially like to thank the amazing research participants who have allowed us to work with them over these many years and the mayors and women’s committees (komiti tūmama) of the villages we’ve recruited research participants from for their interest and permission to conduct this work.
Publications
Selected Publications from our Group
See selected publications from OLaGA in the International Journal of Obesity, Nature Genetics, the American Journal of Human Biology, the Journal of Human Genetics etc.
Additional Information
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Visit the Yale OLaGA page for more information about the variety of studies being conducted in Samoa and American Samoa beyond the studies with a genetic focus.
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Visit the OLaGA Facebook page to aspects of our grassroots outreach among the communities in Samoa and American Samoa.
For more information about our team, our research and our community engagement, you are welcome to contact us at olaga@pitt.edu.
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| Ministry of Health Lab Opening Moto‘otua, Apia, Samoa |
Medical Student Education National University of Samoa, Apia, Samoa |
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| Research Meeting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
2nd Anniversary of Ministry of Health Lab Moto‘otua, Apia, Samoa |
ASHG 2020 Posters
Blood Pressure · Poster 2534
Samoan genome-wide association studies identify novel associations with blood pressure phenotypes
Contact: Jenna Carlson via Twitter @jenccarlson #OLaGA #ASHG2020
Height · Poster 2682
Genome-wide association study of height in Samoan individuals
Contact: Ryan Minster via Twitter @pittjryan #OLaGA #ASHG2020
PCOS · Poster 3700
Genome-wide association study of high vs low risk of polycystic ovarian syndrome in Samoan women
Contact: Zeynep Erdoğan-Yıldırım via Twitter @ZeynepEYildirim #OLaGA #ASHG2020
Telomeres · Poster 3845
Genome-wide association study of telomere length in individuals of Samoan ancestry
Contact: Mohanraj Krishnan via Twitter @MKrishnan #OLaGA #ASHG2020
BMI · Poster 3961
The missense variant, rs373863828, in CREBRF plays a role in longitudinal changes in BMI across adulthood
Contact: Haoyi Fu via Twitter @HaoyiFu #OLaGA #ASHG2020
T2D & Glucose · Poster 3772
Association of a missense variant in CREBRF with type 2 diabetes and fasting glucose in a longitudinal Samoan cohort
Contact: Emily Russell via Twitter @EmilyMRussell #OLaGA #ASHG2020