We envision a future where the drivers of cardiometabolic diseases are fully understood: across populations, across continents, and across the genome. At the Meeks Lab, we use epidemiology, genetics, and multi-omics research to uncover the factors that shape risk for conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases, with a particular focus on African-ancestry populations. We are building a collaborative and intellectually vibrant space where researchers can grow, contribute, and push the boundaries of global health research. 

Lab News

New Study Shows Why Race and Ethnicity Are Poor Proxies for Genetic Ancestry

June 2025

Dr. Karlijn Meeks contributed to a landmark study, now featured in a press release in Science, that analyzed genetic data from more than 230,000 participants in the All of Us Research Program. The findings confirm that race and ethnicity do not accurately reflect a person's genetic background. The study also highlights the importance of examining subcontinental ancestries. For example, West-Central and East African ancestries showed opposite associations with BMI.

Review Highlights Urgent Need to Address Cardiovascular Disease in African Migrant Populations

June 2025

We're proud to share a new invited review by Dr. Karlijn Meeks and long-term Amsterdam UMC collaborator Prof. Charles Agyemang, published in Current Atherosclerosis Reports. The article, titled "Cardiovascular Disease Burden among African Migrants," provides a comprehensive overview of what is known, and still unknown, about the cardiovascular disease burden among African migrant populations globally, including its risk factors, underlying mechanisms, and prevention efforts.