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 P Boyle, PhD
Professor of Human Genetics
Medical School
Stephanie Bielas, PhD
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School
David T Burke
Medical School
Margit Burmeister, PhD
Program Director, Bioinformatics Graduate Program
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Psychiatry
Research Professor, Michigan Neuroscience Institute and Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Medical School
Sally A Camper
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Internal Medicine
Medical School
Eric R Fearon
Director, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Associate Dean for Cancer Programs
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Pathology
Professor of Human Genetics
Medical School
Santhi K Ganesh, MD
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics and Program Director
Internal Medicine
Medical School
David Ginsburg
Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics
Professor of Pediatrics
Medical School and Research Professor
Life Sciences Institute
Thomas W Glover
Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Pathology, Medical School
Michelle J Hays
Medical School
Jacob Kitzman, PhD
Associate Chair, Department of Human Genetics
Associate Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Medical School
Jun Li, PhD
Medical School
Ryan Mills, PhD
Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Professor of Human Genetics
Medical School
Gilbert S Omenn, MD, PhD
Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics
Medical School
Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
School of Public Health
Goutham, Narla, MD, PhD
Professor of Internal Medicine
Professor of Human Genetics and Program Assistant
Internal Medicine
Medical School
Xander Nuttle
Stephen CJ Parker, PhD
Professor of Human Genetics, Medical School
Professor of Biostatistics, School of Public Health
JoAnn M Sekiguchi, PhD
Associate Professor of Human Genetics and Program Director
Human Genetics
Medical School
Jordan Shavit, MD, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Human Genetics
Medical School
Thomas E Wilson, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology
Professor of Human Genetics
Associate Medical Director, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory and Program Assistant
MGP Fellowship Director
Medical School
