Weichen (Arthur) Zhou, PhD
Gilbert S. Omenn Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics
Room 5B394, Med Sci 1 B-Wing, 1301 Catherine Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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About
My primary research interest lies in discovering and analyzing genomic structural variations and repetitive elements in human populations and understanding the impact of their somatic mosaicism on health and disease. By leveraging bioinformatics pipelines on multi-omics data and utilizing cutting-edge genomic technologies, we can explore the origins, distribution, and mutational processes of these variations and elements, further elucidating their effects on population diversity and various genetic disorders.
Join us in exploring the exciting world of genomics!
We are hiring motivated students and research associates eager to learn and contribute to projects spanning machine learning, software development, cloud-based big data analysis, sequencing technology innovation, and genetic discovery in neurodegeneration.
Links
https://scholar.google.com.hk/citations?user=3O6XCBkAAAAJ&hl=en GitHub linkedin twitter
Qualifications
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Ph.D., GeneticsFudan University, Shanghai, China
2009 - 2014
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B.S.E., BioinformaticsHuazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
2005 - 2009
Research Overview
Structural variations (SVs) are well-known contributors to population diversity and are implicated in various genetic disorders. By integrating bioinformatics pipelines with data from diverse genomic technologies, we aim to explore the origins, distribution, and mutational processes of SVs. However, a significant challenge in the field is that many SVs are potentially overlooked due to their presence in complex genomic regions that are difficult to analyze using traditional methodologies. To address this, I am developing novel analytical tools and utilizing emerging genomic technologies, particularly long-read sequencing, to penetrate these intricate regions and resolve previously elusive SVs. My research focuses specifically on repetitive transposable elements (TEs), a category of genomic variation with profound implications for my work. One of my projects involves developing a targeted method using CRISPR technology and nanopore sequencing to capture active TEs in human genomes. This cutting-edge approach could uncover the somatic mosaicism of TEs, potentially shedding light on the molecular mechanisms underlying disease-related pathogenesis.
I have extensive experience working with large datasets, such as the NIA Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease Data Storage Site, All of Us, and the 1000 Genomes Project. My collaborations with international genetic and genomic consortium projects—such as Somatic Mosaicism Across Human Tissues, the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project, the Genome in a Bottle Consortium, the Brain Somatic Mosaicism Network, and the Human Genome Structural Variation Consortium—have contributed significantly to our understanding of genomic variation and its impact on human health and disease. As an early-career scientist, I am committed to advancing the fields of genomics and genetics and remain dedicated to contributing to the biomedical and genetics communities.
Recent Publications
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Network TSMAHT, Sedlazeck FJ, Coorens THH, Park PJ, Stergachis AB. 2026 Sep 6; bioRxiv,PreprintIntegrated map of somatic mosaicism across human tissues in 25 individuals
DOI:10.64898/2026.09.01.748636 -
Zhou W. 2026 Oct 8;PresentationInvestigating Somatic Repetitive Element Insertions in Alzheimer’s Disease Brains Using TEnCATS Technology
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Gao S, Oshima KK, Chuang SC, Loftus M, Potapova TA, Montanari A, Gordon DS, Yang Z, Zody MC, Zhu Q, Zhou W, Zhao X, Yoo DA, Yilmaz F, Veidenberg A, Tsapalou V, Talkowski ME, Surapaneni L, Sun K, Song Y, Shi X, Rausch T, Rabbani K, Prodanov T, Porubsky D, Peng Z, Pani S, Paisie C, Ni L, Narzisi G, Munson KM, Mostovoy Y, Mills RE, Martino GV, Marschall T, Loftus M, Lin J, Li C, Li J, Leung T, Lee C, Lansdorp PM, Kwon Y, Korbel JO, Kim K, Jiang Y, Jensen M, Hunt S, Hu K, Hoekzema K, Henglin M, Hasenfeld P, Hallast P, Gu B, Gerstein MB, Freeberg M, Fan CH, Fairbrother-Browne A, Eichler EE, Ebler J, Ebert P, Devine SE, Crabtree J, Corvelo A, Chong Z, Chaisson MJP, Byrska-Bishop M, Brooks L, Bonder MJ, Beck CR, Basile AO, Balachandran P, Azov A, Ayllon M, Audano PA, Ashraf H, Zunino G, Zhuo X, Zhou Y, Zhang W, Ye K, Xu Z, Xin Z, Whelan CV, Wenger AM, Wang T, Wang LE, Wang C, Walenz BP, Vollger MR, Violich I, Villani F, Varki R, Ungaro MT, Uddin M, Tricomi FF, Tomlinson C, Tierney JAS, Tayoun AA, Söylev A. Nature, 2026 Jan 1;Journal ArticleA global view of human centromere variation and evolution
DOI:10.1038/s41586-026-10841-9 PMID: 42527608 -
Zhu Q, Zhang J, Zhou W, Liang SA, Wang S, Cai X, Li F, Li J, Zhang G, Feng H, Fu Q, Akey JM, Zhang F, Jin L, Xu S, Zheng HX, Chen L. Science Advances, 2026 Jan 1; 12 (6):Journal ArticleIntrogressed mitochondrial fragments from archaic hominins alter nuclear genome function in modern humans
DOI:10.1126/sciadv.aea0706 PMID: 41637520 -
Zhou W, Mumm C, Gan Y, Switzenberg JA, Wang J, Oliveira PD, Kathuria K, Losh SJ, McDonald TL, Bessell B, Deynze KV, McConnell MJ, Boyle AP, Mills RE. Alzheimer S Dementia the Journal of the Alzheimer S Association, 2025 Dec 1; 21: e103962Proceeding / Abstract / PosterBasic Science and Pathogenesis
DOI:10.1002/alz70855_103962 PMID: 41437633 -
Kirby AE, Loftus M, Golba EC, Lee C, Eichler EE, Marschall T, Korbel JO, Zody MC, Zhu Q, Zhou W, Zhao X, Yilmaz F, Ye K, Yang X, Wenger AM, Tubio JMC, Tallon LJ, Talkowski ME, Sulovari A, Stegle O, Shi X, Santamarina M, Sanders AD, Rodriguez-Martin B, Ren J, Regier AA, Rausch T, Raeder B, Porubsky D, Munson KM, Mu Z, Mills RE, Mari RS, Lu TY, Lin J, Li YI, Li C, Lewis AP, Lee J, Kumar S, Hsieh PH, Höps W, Hastie AR, Hasenfeld P, Harvey WT, Hall IM, Ghareghani M, Gerstein MB, Flicek P, Fairley S, Evani US, Ebler J, Ebert P, Devine SE, Corvelo A, Clarke WE, Chuang NT, Chong Z, Chen Y, Chen J, Chaisson MJP, Byrska-Bishop M, Brand H, Bonder MJ, Basile AO, Audano PA, Ashraf H, Abel HJ, Konkel MK. Mobile DNA, 2025 Dec 1; 16 (1):Journal ArticleStructural and transduction patterns of human-specific polymorphic SVA insertions
DOI:10.1186/s13100-025-00373-w -
Zhou W. 2025 Nov 19;PresentationA personalized multi-platform framework enhances somatic mosaicism discovery in human tissues
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2025 Nov 19;PresentationFunction of Complex Variation and Repeats
Featured News & Stories
Weichen Zhou Attends Alzheimer's Association International Conference with Support of Mezey Award
Jie Liu, PhD, and Weichen (Arthur) Zhou, PhD, were recognized with a University of Michigan Endowment for Basic Sciences (EBS) award
