Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program
The Human Medical Genetics and Genomics at CU is an interdepartmental program that provides world-class PhD training in genetics and genomics, two of the fastest moving fields in science. Our mission is to foster the next generation of leaders in these areas — from interpreting personal genomes, through developing disease model systems and building novel computational data-driven methods and tools, to repairing of disease genes in stem cells — and transforming biomedical research and medical practice. Why HMGGP?
Program News
2025 RJH Summer Scholars!
Susana Lopez-Ignacio, a rising 3rd year student was awarded The RJH Summer Scholar Research Award. The Randi J. Hagerman Summer Scholar Research Awards fund one or more summer students’ research up to $5,000 each. Student work can be focused on Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the Fragile X premutation, Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), or Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI). The RJH Summer Scholar Research Award is meant to introduce undergraduate students or students in professional training programs to research in the Fragile X field by providing funding for a summer project.
2024 Gilliam Fellow
Carissa Sherman, a rising fourth year student, was just named a 2024 Gilliam Fellow along with her adviser, Dr. Katrina Claw. This prestigious program, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, aims to advance equity and inclusion in science for both trainees and mentors.
Grant Helps Pave Pathway for Diversifying Network of Genomic Scientists
Dr. Audrey Hendricks from the Department of Biomedical Informatics and an HMGGP faculty member was recently awarded two NHGRI grants to develop research pathways in genomic science. The Pathways in Genomics Data Science (PATH-GDS) supports master ‘s level students, while the Pathways in Genomics Research Experiences for Undergraduates (PATH-GREU), created paid fellowships for students from diverse backgrounds to learn more about genomics. Congratulations to Audrey and everyone involved!
Save the Date for the 2024 HMGGP Annual Symposium
The 2024 HMGGP Annual Symposium will be held on November 4th in the Don Elliman Conference Center in AHSB. This year, we are hosting two exciting keynotes, Dr. Naiara Akizu from CHOP, who studies genetic and epigenetic regulation of neurodegeneration and neurodevelopmental disorders and Dr. Meg DeAngelis from the SUNY University at Buffalo, who uses systems biology to understand Mendelian and complex blinding diseases. The day will also feature presentations from HMGGP trainees and faculty. Please join us!
Welcome New HMGGP Faculty
A warm HMGGP welcome to multiple new HMGGP faculty: Dr. Joshua Johnson (Obstetrics and Gynecology), Dr. Milton Pividori (Biomedical Informatics), Dr. Janani Ravi (Biomedical Informatics), Dr. Kristin Watt (Craniofacial Biology), and Dr. Harriet Dashnow (Biomedical Informatics).
Thesis Defense: Hayley Wolff
Hayley Wolff from Dr. Audrey Hendricks lab will defend her dissertation entitled “Advancing methodologies for estimating substructure and allele frequencies from genetic summary data” on October 28, 2024 at 2pm in AHSB 2200. See you there!
Students Present at an International Meeting
Several HMGGP students from the Sullivan lab in the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome presented their work at the 5Th International Meeting of the Trisomy 21 Research Society, in Rome, Italy in June. Lauren Dunn, a 5th year, chaired a symposium entitled “Liver Dysfunction in Down Syndrome” and delivered a talk entitled “Altered bile acid metabolism in Down syndrome”; Jason Wilson, MS, also a 5th year, delivered a talk entitled “Transient site-specific copy gains of the Chr21 IFNR locus are suppressed by Trisomy 21”; and Abby Cozart, a 3rd year, presented a poster entitled “Altered TNF-ɑ Response in Down Syndrome”. Dr. Sullivan also delivered a plenary talk entitled “The Interferonopathy of Down Syndrome”.
Congrats, Dr. Katrina Claw!
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has granted Katrina Claw, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the Alan T. Waterman Award, the nation’s highest honor for early-career scientists and engineers, for her contributions to science and dedication to diversity in the field.
Congrats, Dr. Julian!
Colleen Julian, PhD, associate professor of biomedical informatics, describes her work identifying treatments for neonatal pulmonary hypertension in an article published in the department’s newsroom. Colleen regularly travels to cities located in the Andes mountains of South America and is working with researchers in Bolivia. She is corresponding author of a symposium review published earlier this year by The Journal of Physiology.