I then investigated promising biomarkers for cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and angiogenesis before pursuing a series of studies on kidney function and risk of cardiovascular disease and asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I then began to collaborate with our Diabetes Registry group — which resulted in a paper on glycemic control and heart failure that remains 1 of my most cited studies. After that, I worked with Alan Go, MD, on a series of studies investigating the genetic determinants of coronary artery disease.