Genetics and Genomics
Genetics, the science of inheritance and variation among living organisms, can be traced back to the seminal work of Gregor Mendel, published in 1866. Yet today genetics is one of the most fast-moving fields of biomedical research. Technological progress driven by the relatively new science of genomics, the study of the genomes of organisms, has led to rapid advances over the past few years. We now have the complete DNA sequence of many genomes and are able to decipher the mechanisms that regulate gene expression, configure chromatin architecture, recruit transcription factors and activate or silence individual loci or gene networks. Moreover, we can investigate the cross-talk between the genome and the epigenome, the modifications that alter gene expression but do not change the underlying DNA sequence. These dynamic processes are critical for normal development and differentiated function of distinct cell types in an organism and their failure results in a wide spectrum of human diseases.
Northwestern University is home to a vibrant and interactive group of scientists carrying out world-class, state-of-the-art research into fundamental mechanisms of genetics, genomics and epigenomics. The Genetics and Genomics cluster enhances and builds advanced training for our graduate students in these subject areas. This is an inclusive training opportunity that is available to all trainees on the several university campuses, irrespective of their primary field of study, or their departmental or geographical affiliations.
Training opportunities include:
1. State of the art workshops. Workshops will focus on technology or computational biology relevant to genetics and genomics Recent workshops include practical classes on bioinformatic pipelines, and programming skills.
2. Genetics and Genomics seminars. High profile scientists will be chosen and invited by the trainees. Other relevant seminar series and journal clubs are ongoing.
3. Annual Symposium. This event is organized jointly by the cluster leadership and the trainees. It brings eminent keynote speakers to the university and includes talks from Northwestern faculty and students. The symposium provides an opportunity for the students to showcase their work and network in the Northwestern Genetics and Genomics community.
Cluster Director
- Christine DiDonato, PhD Professor, Pediatrics, Director, Human Molecular Genetics Program, SMCRI
Training Faculty
* Denotes Training Faculty for PhD students1. Chromatin and Epigenetics.
- Jason Brickner*, PhD (IBiS) Spatial organization of the nucleus and gene expression
- Debabrata Chakravarti*, PhD (DGP) Hormone signaling and chromatin modifications
- Ramana Davuluri*, PhD (DGP) Translational bioinformatics and cancer genomics
- Kyle Eagen*, PhD (DGP) Structural and biochemical basis of chromatin folding and chromosome segregation
- Daniel Foltz*, PhD (DGP) Centromeric chromatin assembly and chromosome segregation
- Lifang Hou*, MD, PhD (DGP) Environmental, genetic and epigenetic risk factors for disease
- Steve Kosak*, PhD (DGP) Nuclear Form and Function during Cellular Differentiation and Disease
- John Marko*, PhD (IBiS) Protein-DNA interactions, and chromosome structure and dynamics
- Christopher Payne*, PhD (DGP) Epigenetics of Stem Cells and the Stem Cell Niche
- Ali Shilatifard*, PhD (DGP) Molecular machinery for histone modifications
- Sadie Wignall, PhD (IBiS) Chromosome dynamics during oocyte meiosis
- Jindan Yu*, PhD (DGP) Genetic and epigenetic pathways to prostate cancer
- Wei Zhang*, PhD (DGP)Genetics and epigenetics of complex traits
2. Regulation of Gene Expression and Transcription Factors.
- Ravi Allada*, MD (IBiS) Molecular Genetics of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
- Erik Andersen*, PhD (IBiS) Gene identification and disease susceptibility
- Grant Barish*, MD (DGP) Transcriptional regulators of inflammation and metabolism
- Joseph Bass*, MD, PhD (DGP) Circadian and metabolic gene networks in the development of diabetes and obesity
- Jason Brickner*, PhD (IBiS) Spatial organization of the nucleus and gene expression
- Debabrata Chakravarti*, PhD (DGP) Hormone signaling and chromatin modifications
- John Crispino*, PhD (DGP) Transcriptional regulation of normal and malignant blood cell development
- Marco Gallio*, PhD (IBiS) The processing of temperature stimuli in the brain
- Jamie Garcia-Anoveros*, PhD (DGP) Sensory and Developmental Neurobiology
- Geoff Kansas*, PhD (DGP) Transcriptional control of Fut7 in hematopoeitic cells
- Carole LaBonne*, PhD (IBiS) Formation, migration and differentiation of neural crest cells
- Vijay Sarthy*, PhD (DGP) Gene regulation, development and functional organization of the vertebrate retina
- Beatriz Sosa-Pineda*, PhD (DGP) Role of homeodomain-containing transcription factors in pancreas and liver organogenesis
- Alex Stegh*, MD, PhD (DGP) Defining and targeting the oncogenome of glioblastoma
- Eric Weiss*, PhD (IBiS) Signaling Pathways in the Control of Cell Architecture
- Jane Wu*, MD, PhD (DGP) Molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression and their involvement in the pathogenesis of age-related disease
3. Animal Models for Human Genetic Disease.
- Joseph Bass*, MD, PhD (DGP) Circadian and metabolic gene networks in the development of diabetes and obesity
- Greg Beitel*, PhD (IBiS) Molecular Genetics of Organ Morphogenesis
- Thomas Bozza*, PhD (IBiS) Molecular Genetics and Physiology of Olfaction
- Richard Carthew*, PhD (IBiS) RNAi and Gene Regulation
- Gemma Carvill*, PhD (DGP) Genetic causes and pathogenic mechanisms that underlie epilepsy
- Jaehyuk Choi*, MD, PhD (DGP) Genetic basis of inherited and acquired immunological disorders and skin diseases
- John Crispino*, PhD (DGP) Mechanisms of normal and malignant blood cell growth
- Christine DiDonato*, PhD (DGP) Molecular basis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
- Yuanyi Feng*, PhD (DGP) Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cerebral cortex development
- Jamie Garcia-Anoveros*, PhD (DGP) Sensory and Developmental Neurobiology
- Alfred George, Jr.*, MD (DGP) Structure, function, pharmacology and molecular genetics of ion channels and channelopathies
- Richard Green*, MD (DGP) Genetics and molecular biology of cholestatic liver diseases and fatty liver disorders
- Robert Holmgren*, PhD (IBiS) Cell-fate specification during development
- Jennifer Kearney*, PhD (DGP) Genetic basis of epilepsy
- Dimitri Krainc*, MD, PhD (DGP) Mechanisms of neuronal dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders
- Carole LaBonne*, PhD (IBiS) Formation, migration and differentiation of neural crest cells
- Nikia Laurie*, PhD (DGP) Molecular mechanisms of retinoblastoma progression
- Yong-Chao Ma*, PhD (DGP) Regulation of motor neuron and dopaminergic neuron function in development and disease
- Puneet Opal*, MD, PhD (DGP) Cellular basis of neurodegeneration
- P. Hande Ozdinler*, PhD (DGP) Cortical component of motor neuron circuitry degeneration in ALS and related disorders
- Teepu Siddique*, MD (DGP) Causes, mechanisms, and modeling of neurodegenerative disorders
- Fred Turek*, PhD (IBiS) Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
- Xiaozhong (Alec) Wang*, PhD (IBiS) Genetic Analysis of Protocadherin Diversity in the Central Nervous System
- Jane Wu*, MD, PhD (DGP) Molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression and their involvement in the pathogenesis of age-related disease
4. Novel Genetic Technologies and Bioinformatics.
- Rosemary Braun*, PhD, MPH (IBiS) Analyzing high-throughput genomic data in the context of biological systems
- Ramana Davuluri*, PhD (DGP) Translational bioinformatics and cancer genomics
- Lifang Hou*, MD, PhD (DGP) Environmental, genetic and epigenetic risk factors for disease
- Elizabeth McNally*, MD, PhD (DGP)Genetic mechanisms responsible for inherited human disease
- Minoli Perera*, PharmD, PhD (DGP)Pharmacogenomics research in minority patient populations
- Ishwar Radhakrishnan*, PhD (IBiS) Structure, function, dynamics and informatics of macromolecular complexes
- Jonathan Silverberg*, MD, PhD, MPH (DGP) Dermatoepidemiology
- Matthew Schipma, PhD, Technical Director NGS Core Facility
- Justin Starren*, MD, PhD (DGP) Health care computing
- Ji-Ping Wang, PhD Bioinformatics and genomics
- Deborah Winter*, PhD (DGP)Computational immunology
- Wei Zhang*, PhD (DGP)Genetics and epigenetics of complex traits
5. Genetics of Complex disease.
- Ravi Allada*, MD (IBiS) Molecular Genetics of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
- Grant Barish*, MD (DGP) BCL6 in gluconeogenesis, diet-induced obesity, and insulin resistance
- Joseph Bass*, MD, PhD (DGP) Circadian and metabolic gene networks in the development of diabetes and obesity
- Gemma Carvill*, PhD (DGP) Genetic causes and pathogenic mechanisms that underlie epilepsy
- Jaehyuk Choi*, MD, PhD (DGP) Genetic basis of inherited and acquired immunological disorders and skin diseases
- Han-Xiang Deng, MD, PhD
- Alfred George, Jr.*, MD (DGP) Structure, function, pharmacology and molecular genetics of ion channels and channelopathies
- M Geoffrey Hayes*, PhD (DGP) Evolutionary population genetics and genetic epidemiology
- Jennifer Kearney*, PhD (DGP) Genetic basis of epilepsy
- Peter Kopp*, MD (DGP) Molecular genetics of thyroid and other endocrine disorders
- William Lowe*, MD (DGP) IGF-1 Gene Expression and Genetics of Diabetes
- Elizabeth McNally*, MD, PhD (DGP) Genes and Modifiers for Heart and Muscle Disease
- Minoli Perera*, PharmD, PhD (DGP)Pharmacogenomics research in minority patient populations
- Teepu Siddique*, MD (DGP) Molecular basis of neurodegeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Margrit Urbanek*, PhD (DGP) Susceptibility genes for complex diseases
- Lawrence Jennings, MD, PhD Novel molecular assays
- Peter Kopp*, MD (DGP) Molecular genetics of thyroid and other endocrine disorders
- Suzanne O’Neill, MS, PhD, CGC Quantitative genetics
- Maureen Smith, MS, CGC Genome-wide Studies
- Cathy Wicklund, MS, CGC Genetic Counseling
- Laurie Zoloth, PhD Bioethics