Biomedical Genetics

Our Research

Explore the spectrum of our research in topics including age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer disease, substance abuse, sickle cell disease, membranous nephropathy, mental illness, longevity, cancer genetics, epigenetics and developmental genetics.

Molecular Genetics Core Lab

For biomedical researchers both on campus and off, our program’s Molecular Genetics Core Lab provides services for DNA and RNA extraction, sequencing, genotyping and cell line cultures.

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Education & Training

Genetics News

Dr. Xiaoling Zhang interview with Medical News Today: Risk of Alzheimer’s linked to cholesterol, blood sugar levels at age 35

April 1st, 2022

March 29, 2022, Dr. Xiaoling Zhang interviewed with Annie Lennon from Medical News Today, and discussed about the recent study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, Farmingham Heart Study. Dr. Xiaoling Zhang told MNT that improved blood flow in the brain might also explain some of their findings. She explained that HDL could increase transportation and thus […]

Dr. Farrer Interview with CNN: Fight Alzheimer’s in your mid-30s by tracking these warning signs

March 23rd, 2022

On Wednesday, March 23, 2022, Dr. Lindsay Farrer interviewed with Sandee LaMotte from CNN, and discussed about the recent study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, Farmingham Heart Study. "What's unique about the study is the large sample of individuals that are examined every four years or so, starting at age 35, and followed […]

Grants

Dr. Huiping Zhang Funded R01 Grant

March 17th, 2022

Identifying Brain Epitranscriptomic Changes Associated with Alcohol Use Disorder Huiping Zhang, PhD Award Number: 1R01AA029758-01 Chronic alcohol consumption may result in methyl-adenosine modification of brain RNAs, thus altering the stability and expression of brain RNAs involved in reward or addiction-related pathways. This R01 project will (1) identify differentially methylated and expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in […]

Accolades

Dr. Huiping Zhang Recieved 2022 Wing Tat Lee Award

March 11th, 2022

Congratulation to Dr. Huiping Zhang who has recieved the 2022 Wing Tat Lee Award Dr. Zhang will collaborate with Ying Liu, PhD, associate professor of genetics at Soochow University, to study the genetic mechanism of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.DS), which is a disorder characterized by heart abnormalities, recurrent infections and distinctive facial features. They will […]

Grants

The top 2021 current grant awards

November 30th, 2021

Top 2021 New and Current Grants

Accolades

Dr. Zhang awarded NIH 1U01 Research Project grant

November 30th, 2021

Circular RNAs and their interactions with RNA-binding proteins to modulate AD-related neuropathology Dr. Xiaoling Zhang awarded NIH 1U01 Research Project grant New variants, especially in non-coding regions, are expected to be discovered through the ongoing Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP). In 2020, NIA launched the ADSP Functional Genomics Initiative (RFA-AG-21-006) to strengthen the translational pathways […]

Accolades

Dr. Sherva awarded NIH R01 Grant

November 30th, 2021

Exploring mechanisms driving microbe-induced AD risk using next generations sequence data Dr. Richard Sherva awarded NIH R01 grant Multiple lines of evidence suggest microbial infections are risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides possess antimicrobial activity and may protect against human herpes viruses (HHV). Viral DNA is also detectable in Aβ plaques, and […]

Accolades