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Laboratory of Translational Genomics

Understanding the contribution of genetic variation to cancer etiology and outcomes

The Laboratory of Translational Genomics (LTG) conducts studies on germline and somatic genetics of cancer, including analyses of regions of the human genome conclusively identified in cancer-specific genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and family-based studies.

Research Mission

The mission of the LTG is to understand the contribution of germline and somatic genetic variation to cancer etiology and outcomes and to elucidate underlying molecular mechanisms of these associations. Our primary goals are to:

  • Detect cancer susceptibility alleles across multiple cancer types and ancestries
  • Fine-map susceptibility alleles using sequencing, genotyping and imputation based on data from public databases
  • Prioritize candidate variants for follow-up studies through bioinformatics analyses
  • Decipher the biological mechanisms underlying susceptibility alleles through laboratory investigation
  • Establish genomic resources representing diverse ancestries and cancer sites to facilitate cancer genomics research
  • Integrate cutting-edge, high-throughput functional genomics approaches in genetic/epidemiologic studies

    Tour of the Laboratory of Translational Genomics (LTG)

    Join Francine Baker, M.S., predoctoral fellow, and Ludmilla Prokunina-Olsson, Ph.D., LTG Director, and Senior investigator, on a tour of the laboratory.

Research Laboratories

Each LTG investigator heads a laboratory focused on specific research.

LTG members gathered for a periodic retreat.

Fellowships

LTG accepts fellowship applications on an ongoing basis. Meet the current LTG fellows and learn about research training opportunities in LTG.

LTG Highlights

Long E, […] Choi J. Context-aware single-cell multiomics approach identifies cell-type-specific lung cancer susceptibility genes. Nature Commun. 2024.

Twelve Lung Adenocarcinoma Risk Variants Identified for East Asian Individuals

Choi J, Zhang T, [...] Brown, K. Massively parallel reporter assays of melanoma risk variants identify MX2 as a gene promoting melanoma. Nature Commun. 2020.

Gadalla SM [...] Prokunina-Olsson L. Association of donor IFNL4 genotype and non-relapse mortality after unrelated donor myeloablative haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation for acute leukaemia: a retrospective cohort studyLancet Haematology. 2020.

Onabajo, OO, Banday, AR, Stanifer, ML, et al. Interferons and viruses induce a novel truncated ACE2 isoform and not the full-length SARS-CoV-2 receptorNat Genet. 2020.

Zhong J, Jermusyk A, Wu L, […] Amundadottir LT. A Transcriptome-Wide Association Study Identifies Novel Candidate Susceptibility Genes for Pancreatic Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2019.

Zhang T, Choi J, Kovacs MA, […] Brown KM. Cell-type-specific eQTL of primary melanocytes facilitates identification of melanoma susceptibility genes. Genome Res. 2018.

Petrovics G, Price DK, Lou H, […] Dean M. Increased frequency of germline BRCA2 mutations associates with prostate cancer metastasis in a racially diverse patient population. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2018.

Zhang M, Lykke-Andersen S, Zhu B, […] Amundadottir L. Characterising cis-regulatory variation in the transcriptome of histologically normal and tumour-derived pancreatic tissues. Gut. 2018.

Tang W, Wallace TA, Yi M,[…] Prokunina-Olsson L, Ambs S. IFNL4-ΔG Allele Is Associated with an Interferon Signature in Tumors and Survival of African-American Men with Prostate Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2018.

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