Yann C Klimentidis

Yann C Klimentidis

Associate Professor, Public Health
Assistant Professor, Genetics - GIDP
Associate Professor, BIO5 Institute
Primary Department
Contact
(520) 621-0147

Work Summary

I use human genetic data to find associations of genetic markers with complex traits and diseases, to shed light on disease pathophysiology, causal pathways, and health disparities, and to inform precision medicine.

Research Interest

Yann C. Klimentidis, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. His research centers on improving our understanding of the links between genetic variation, lifestyle factors, metabolic disease, and health disparities. In the past, he has used measures of genetic admixture and genomic tests of natural selection to understand the genetic basis of population differences in disease susceptibility. His most recent work examines the use various statistical approaches for the analysis of high-dimensional genetic data for improving prediction of genetic susceptibility to type-2 diabetes. In addition, his work examines gene-by-lifestyle interactions in type-2 diabetes, as well as understanding the causal links between metabolic traits such as dyslipidemia and type-2 diabetes. Keywords: Genetics, epidemiology, Cardiometabolic disease, Physical activity

Publications

Klimentidis, Y. C., Bea, J. W., Thompson, P., Klimecki, W. T., Hu, C., Wu, G., Nicholas, S., Ryckman, K. K., & Chen, Z. (2016). Genetic Variant in ACVR2B Is Associated with Lean Mass. Medicine and science in sports and exercise.
BIO5 Collaborators
Zhao Chen, Chengcheng Hu, Walter Klimecki, Yann C Klimentidis

Low lean mass (LM) is a risk factor for chronic disease, a major cause of disability and diminished quality of life, and is a heritable trait. However, relatively few specific genetic factors have been identified as potentially influencing this trait.

Klimentidis, Y. C., Bea, J. W., Lohman, T. G., Hsieh, P. S., Going, S. B., & Chen, Z. (2015). Resistance exercise intervention results in less weight loss among individuals at high genetic risk for obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 39(9), 1371-1375.
BIO5 Collaborators
Zhao Chen, Scott B Going, Yann C Klimentidis
Thomson, C. A., Jackson, R., Chou, Y., Hu, C., Ernst, K. C., Bea, J. W., Klimentidis, Y. C., & Chen, Z. (2017). Body mass index, waist circumference and mortality in a large mutiethnic postmenopausal cohort - Results from the Women's Health Initiative.. Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
BIO5 Collaborators
Zhao Chen, Chengcheng Hu, Yann C Klimentidis
Going, S. B., Chen, Z., Alexander, G. E., Mandarino, L. J., Garcia, D. O., Bea, J. W., Raichlen, D. A., & Klimentidis, Y. C. (2017). Genome-wide association study of habitual physical activity in over 277,000 UK Biobank participants indentifies novel variants and genetic correlations with chronotype and obesity related traits. International Journal of Obesity.
BIO5 Collaborators
Zhao Chen, Scott B Going, Yann C Klimentidis
Klimentidis, Y. C., Bea, J. W., Lohman, T., Hsieh, P., Going, S., & Chen, Z. (2015). High genetic risk individuals benefit less from resistance exercise intervention. International journal of obesity (2005), 39(9), 1371-5.
BIO5 Collaborators
Zhao Chen, Yann C Klimentidis

Genetic factors have an important role in body mass index (BMI) variation, and also likely have a role in the weight loss and body composition response to physical activity/exercise. With the recent identification of BMI-associated genetic variants, it is possible to investigate the interaction of these genetic factors with exercise on body composition outcomes.