Integrative analysis of genetic variation and transcription factor networks to elucidate mechanisms of mental health disorders

PROJECT NARRATIVE Population genomics allows us to map the genetic determinants of human disease, but keeps the underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways hidden. Functional genomics, on the other hand, allow researchers to dissect the molecular machinery of the cell that interprets the instructions hidden in our genome, but does not provide explicit connections to disease. In this project, we develop computational strategies that exploit existing knowledge about molecular networks to achieve mechanistic understanding of how genetic variants impact disease, which can help suggest specific therapeutic directions.