Research

Computational biologists with colleagues from Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics develop and apply cutting-edge computational approaches to analyze large-scale biomedical omics data and encourage collaborative research in neuroscience, oncology, immunology, pharmaco-sciences and basic biological sciences. Faculty are involved in diverse area of computational biology research, including population and statistical genetics, computational pharmacogenetics, translational biomedical informatics, regulatory genomics and epigenomics, alternative splicing and proteomics, system biology and network analysis, cancer bioinformatics, and computational methodology development.

The Division of Computational Genomics and Genomic Technology brings together experts in computational biology, statistical genetics, functional genomics and advanced genomic technologies to understand the genetic and molecular basis of human health and disease. By integrating large-scale genomic and multi-omics data with artificial intelligence, machine learning and innovative experimental approaches, our faculty translate complex biological data into discoveries that advance precision medicine.

Faculty in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics who are part of the Stark Neuroscience Research Institute seek to increase the understanding of neuroscience through the continued pursuit of genomic research and the rapid translation of new discoveries into improved patient care. A significant focus is on the neurobiology and molecular genetics of neurodegenerative disorders, including most prominently Alzheimer’s disease. These faculty are exploring causes of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, searching for new methods to detect the disease early and discovering the latest advances to slow and prevent the disease.

IU School of Medicine Genetics investigators studying musculoskeletal biology are interested in the molecular genetics of a wide variety of metabolic bone diseases. The experimental designs taken by genetics faculty now housed in the Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health are undertaken with regard to the long-term goal of application to human disorders and to understand basic bone cell biology. Genetic analyses involving human and animal studies as well as cutting edge in vitro and ex vivo work include approaches such as whole genome sequencing, RNASeq, CRISPR-Cas, laser microdissection, single cell analysis, and multicolor flow cytometry.

IU School of Medicine Genetics investigators and Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center offer cutting-edge, research-based treatment options such as using patients’ own genetic makeup to identify their potential for cancer, prevent its onset, more effectively diagnose and treat the disease when it does occur, and one day, provide a cure.