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Complex Traits & Diseases

Complex traits such as height, body mass index (BMI), diseases such as type 2 diabetes, and psychological disorders are influenced by a multitude of genetic and environmental factors. Understanding these factors is critical for designing therapeutics, which can be catered to patients depending on their genetic background through novel precision medicine initiatives. Our faculty are working to understand the genetic basis of complex diseases using diverse and innovative computational approaches and experimental assays.

A major focus of our research is to identify genetic variations in both the coding and non-coding regions of the genome. We investigate how these genetic variants impact disease phenotypes in the context of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, psychological disorders, cancer, and vascular traits. To define disease mechanisms, we ask how genetic variation affects specific molecular traits such as enhancer transcription (eRNA) and gene transcription (mRNA). These studies utilize datasets from human populations and from experimental model systems. We are also working to understand how environmental exposures interact with genetic predisposition in modulating the risk of disease. Our faculty are actively involved in highly collaborative projects and large consortia, efficiently analyzing big genomic datasets.

Please browse the profiles of the faculty members below to explore the research of individual laboratories.

Principal Investigators
Alan Boyle Alan P Boyle, PhD
Associate Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Associate Professor of Human Genetics
Stephanie Bielas Stephanie Bielas, PhD
Morton S and Henrietta K Sellner Professor of Human Genetics
Associate Professor of Human Genetics
Associate Chair, Department of Human Genetics
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
David T. Burke, PhD David T Burke
Professor
MPHOTO-HumnGeneticsHdsGrps24(130) Margit Burmeister, PhD
Associate Chair, Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Program Director, Bioinformatics Graduate Program
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Psychiatry
Research Professor, Michigan Neuroscience Institute and Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Sally Camper Sally A Camper
Margery Shaw Distinguished University Professor of Human Genetics and Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Internal Medicine
Eric fearon Eric R Fearon
Emanuel N Maisel Professor of Oncology
Director, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Associate Dean for Cancer Programs
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Pathology
Professor of Human Genetics
ganesh-santhi Santhi K Ganesh
David J Pinsky M.D. Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics and Program Director
Internal Medicine
David Ginsburg headshot David Ginsburg
James V Neel Distinguished University Professor of Internal Medicine and Human Genetics
Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Pediatrics
Research Professor
Life Sciences Institute
Tom-Glover_Full-Size.jpg Thomas W Glover
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Pathology
Jacob Kitzman headshot Jacob Kitzman, PhD
Associate Professor of Human Genetics
Associate Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Jun Li, PhD Jun Li, PhD
Associate Chair
Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Ryan Mills Ryan E Mills, PhD
Program Director of DCMB Computing Infrastructure
Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Professor of Human Genetics
Gilber Omenn Gilbert S Omenn, MD, PhD
Harold T Shapiro Distinguished University Professor of Medicine
Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
Gotham narla Goutham Narla
Louis Newburgh Research Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics and Program Assistant
Internal Medicine
Xander Nuttle Xander Nuttle
Assistant Professor of Human Genetics
Steven Parker Stephen CJ Parker, PhD
Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Biostatistics
JoAnn Sekiguchi JoAnn M Sekiguchi
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Associate Professor of Human Genetics
Associate Chair, Department of Human Genetics and Program Director, Human Genetics
Jordan Shavit, MD, PhD Jordan Shavit
Henry and Mala Dorfman Family Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Human Genetics
HmGenFcltyHdsGrps21(045) Thomas E Wilson, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology
Professor of Human Genetics
Associate Medical Director, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory
Program Assistant
MGP Fellowship Director