Genomics

We learn history from the genomes of humans, tumors, and other species. Our studies reveal how evolution works at the molecular level, offering fundamental insight into how humans and pathogens adapt to challenges.

Michael Hammer has headed a productive research lab in human evolutionary genetics. His lab were early adopters of next generation sequencing (NGS) technology successfully employed NGS methods to identify molecular lesions causing neurodevelopmental disorders in undiagnosed children. His lab is also currently pursuing studies to identify modifier genes that alter the expression of major genes and how they contribute to phenotypic heterogeneity in Mendelian disorders.

Our lab focuses on large-scale –omics datasets, high-throughput computing, and big data analytics. We leverage these technologies to answer questions related to the relationship between microbes, their hosts, and the environment. In particular, we focus on viral-host interactions and co-evolution given environmental factors (i) in aquatic systems and (ii) for phage treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

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.

We are a plant genomics lab who specialize in whole genome sequencing and assembly; with analyses of structural variation, gene modeling and transcriptomes. Our work on major projects of rice, corn, barley, etc, allows us to share our technical expertise with other researchers.

Understanding how genes and genomes are shaped over many generations by the environment in which organisms live in. We also aim to examine how these changes accumulate and might facilitate the genetic divergence between populations and eventually possibly the origin of species. Lastly we aim to leverage the power of genomics to understand the evolution of insecticide resistance in agricultural pests and to find solution to their management.

My laboratory aims to identify the genetic and environmental reasons that certain individuals are predisposed to develop complex diseases like heart disease. We use new technologies, experimental, and computational approaches to identify molecular patterns indicative of disease predisposition.

Harnessing 15MY of natural variation in the genus Oryza (rice) to help solve the 10-billion people question: i.e. how do we feed our world without destroying our world.

Our research approaches apply a combination of advances in nanoscience, molecular biology and omics to a new generation of biological tools and sensors based on nano and microscale technologies for breakthrough applications in healthcare delivery.