08 Dec ERC Consolidator Grant awarded to AMC-UvA researcher Charles Agyemang

Congratulations to AMC-UvA researcher Charles Agyemang who has been awarded a prestigious Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for his project ‘Hypertension susceptibility in African migrants: solving the puzzle through a transcontinental prospective cohort study design’. Charles Agyemang is Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Amsterdam’s Academic Medical Center.

Hypertension is the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Migrants, especially people of Sub-Saharan African heritage, are extremely affected for reasons that are unclear. This project aims to understand the mechanisms underlying the high risk of hypertension among African migrants by assessing the role of epigenetic modifications that result from rapid socio-environmental and behaviour change. To achieve this, Agyemang and his team will establish an innovative transcontinental prospective cohort study of a homogeneous group of African migrants (Ghanaians) living in the Netherlands and non-migrant Ghanaians living in rural and urban Ghana. This will yield new insights into the key drivers of hypertension and deliver a major breakthrough in knowledge about prevention and treatment among this and other population groups.

Researchers of any nationality with 7-12 years of experience since completion of their PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal can apply for the European Research Council’s Consolidator Grant. The grant enables researchers to consolidate their independence by establishing a research team and continuing to develop a success career in Europe. Consolidator Grants may be awarded up to € 2 million per project, for a period of five years.