Genetic and Omic Data

Overview and Data Access

The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) provides one of the most comprehensive genomic resources available for U.S. Hispanic/Latino populations. HCHS/SOL includes extensive genomic and multi-omic data linked to rich longitudinal phenotypic, behavioral, environmental, clinical, imaging, and adjudicated cardiovascular and pulmonary outcome data collected across in-person clinic visits, annual follow-up, and ancillary studies. Genomic data are available through TOPMed and controlled-access repository dbGaP, and through collaboration with HCHS/SOL investigators. Sample size varies by omics data type and clinic visit (PDF).

HCHS/SOL enrolled 16,415 self-identified Hispanic/Latino adults aged 18–74 years from four U.S. communities (Bronx, Chicago, Miami, and San Diego) from 2008 to 2011. Participants represent diverse Hispanic/Latino backgrounds, including Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central American, and South American populations.

Genomics resources available through HCHS/SOL include:

  • Genome-wide genotyping 
  • Whole genome sequencing through NHLBI TOPMed 
  • Imputed genetic variants 
  • Global and local ancestry estimates 
  • Relatedness estimates 
  • Epigenomic and other omics datasets from ancillary studies

Key Publications

Conomos MP, Laurie CA, Stilp AM, Gogarten SM, McHugh CP, Nelson SC, Sofer T, Fernández-Rhodes L, Justice AE, Graff M, Young KL, Seyerle AA, Avery CL, Taylor KD, Rotter JI, Talavera GA, Daviglus ML, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Schneiderman N, Heiss G, Kaplan RC, Franceschini N, Reiner AP, Shaffer JR, Barr RG, Kerr KF, Browning SR, Browning BL, Weir BS, Avilés-Santa ML, Papanicolaou GJ, Lumley T, Szpiro AA, North KE, Rice K, Thornton TA, Laurie CC. Genetic Diversity and Association Studies in US Hispanic/Latino Populations: Applications in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Am J Hum Genet. 2016 Jan 7;98(1):165-84. PMID: 26748518; PMCID: PMC4716704.

Browning SR, Grinde K, Plantinga A, Gogarten SM, Stilp AM, Kaplan RC, Avilés-Santa ML, Browning BL, Laurie CC. Local Ancestry Inference in a Large US-Based Hispanic/Latino Study: Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). G3 (Bethesda). 2016 Jun 1;6(6):1525-34. PMID: 27172203; PMCID: PMC4889649.

Sofer T, Shaffer JR, Graff M, Qi Q, Stilp AM, Gogarten SM, North KE, Isasi CR, Laurie CC, Szpiro AA. Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies with Correlated Individuals: Application to the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Genet Epidemiol. 2016 Sep;40(6):492-501. PMID: 27256683; PMCID: PMC4981554.

Reynolds KM, Horimoto ARVR, Lin BM, Zhang Y, Kurniansyah N, Yu B, Boerwinkle E, Qi Q, Kaplan R, Daviglus M, Hou L, Zhou LY, Cai J, Shaikh SR, Sofer T, Browning SR, Franceschini N. Ancestry-driven metabolite variation provides insights into disease states in admixed populations. Genome Med. 2023 Jul 17;15(1):52. PMID: 37461045; PMCID: PMC10351197.

Rao H, Weiss MC, Moon JY, Perreira KM, Daviglus ML, Kaplan R, North KE, Argos M, Fernández-Rhodes L, Sofer T. Advancements in genetic research by the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos: A 10-year retrospective review. HGG Adv. 2025 Jan 9;6(1):100376. PMID: 39473183; PMCID: PMC11754138.

Collaboration Opportunities

External investigators are encouraged to collaborate with HCHS/SOL investigators and Scientific Interest Groups (SIGs).

Potential collaboration mechanisms include:

Prospective collaborators are encouraged to discuss scientific overlap, feasibility, and existing proposals before formal submission by first contacting a member of the Steering Committee or the lead person of one of our Scientific Interest Groups (SIG) to discuss their ideas. This will save time by clarifying the feasibility of the ideas and, for manuscripts, whether the topic has already been proposed. Manuscripts in progress are accessible on the website --> Resources --> Publications in Progress.

Technical Issues to Consider

Data and analytic standards evolve rapidly; researchers should check latest literature. Technical documentation to approved investigators may include:

  • Genotyping platforms 
  • Genome build information 
  • Quality control procedures 
  • Imputation methods 
  • Ancestry estimation methods 
  • Relatedness estimation procedures 
  • Sequencing freeze/version documentation 
  • Variable dictionaries and data dictionaries

Analytic considerations include:

  • Accounting for population structure 
  • Relatedness 
  • Complex survey design 
  • Use of sampling weights where appropriate 
  • Interpretation of ancestry-informed analyses