Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Gene discovery, variant interpretation using high-throughput functional assays

Key words
genetics, genomics, sequencing, exome, development, muscle, arthrogryposis, limb, scoliosis, clubfoot

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Leveraging neurogenetic disorders to study normal brain development, cancer, and autism

Key words
pediatric brain cancer, brain development, neuroimmunology, cancer neuroscience, autism, hiPSC engineering, genetically engineered mice

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Understanding how the extracellular matrix (ECM) contributes to normal arterial development and how its disruptionleads to abnormal vascular development and disease

Key words
Vascular biology, extracellular matrix, elastin, aneurysms, hypertension

Program affiliation
Human and Statistical Genetics
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology
Neurosciences

Research summary
Genetic underpinnings of neurological/neurosurgical disorders

Key words
rare variants, Chiari I malformation, human genetics, neurosurgery, Deep Mutation Scanning, Mutagenesis, Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy

Program affiliation
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Neurosciences

Research summary
The Han lab investigates microglia and brain macrophage phenotypes in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative contexts through the lens of epigenomics and transcriptomics. 

Key words
microglia, neurodevelopment, epigenetics, transcriptomics, neurodegeneration

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Utilization of genomic information from sarcomas to better understand the pathogenesis of these tumors and to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets for these aggressive cancers.

Key words
sarcoma, metastasis, genomics, cell signalling, NF1, MPNST

Program affiliation
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary

Key words
shared decision making, health equity, implementation science

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Our lab is focused on developing new, minimally invasive tools for rapid and accurate diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases during the pre-symptomatic phases and predicting of outcomes during the acute phase of ischemic strokes.

Key words

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Understanding the molecular mechanism of aging and longevity in mammals

Key words
aging, longevity, hypothalamus, metabolism, NAD biosynthesis, Sirt1, NAMPT, NAD World

Program affiliation
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
Interactions between the nervous and genitourinary systems during development, molecular basis for heterogeneity in progenitors and their lineage commitments in the GU tract, injury and regeneration using animal models, mechanisms of malformations using organoids from iPSCs

Key words
cell fate, gene expression, genomics, disease models, growth factor signaling, kidney, bladder, innervation, stem cells, organogenesis, nervous system development, birth defects