From deciphering underlying genetic factors of diseases to developing cutting-edge genome technology, our scientists are making impactful discoveries everyday.
Strength in Genetics and Genomics Research
The Department of Genetics has traditional strengths in computational biology and genome science, as well as model organism, evolutionary and human genetics. Recent specialties include neurological disorders, cellular bioenergetics, epigenomics, personalized medicine and genome technology development.
We have established leadership in the following flagship NIH genomic medicine themed projects:
- The Human Pangenome Project (NHGRI)
- The Impact of Genetic Variation on Function (NHGRI)
- The Long Life Family Study (NIA)
- Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues (NIH Common Fund)
- Multi-Omics for Health and Disease (NHGRI, NCI, NIEHS)
- The BRAIN (The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative Cell Atlas Network (NIMH)
Within the close-knit research community of Washington University School of Medicine, our scientists are supported by a strong foundation. School of Medicine Facts & Figures
| #2 NIH Funding (2023) | $838.3 Million Research Funding 2022 | 19 Nobel Laureates |
Latest News
WashU Medicine’s fellow-to-faculty programs nurture growth of talented early-career scientists (Links to an external site)
The newly launched Department of Genetics fellow-to-faculty program aims to prepare fellows not just as scientists but as future leaders. The first recruit, Macias-Velasco, earned his PhD at WashU in computational and systems biology, a field that uses sophisticated statistical approaches to understand human genetics and the development of disease.
The 2nd Gary D. Stormo Computational & Systems Biology Lecture and the announcement of the 2025 Stormo Fellow
The Department of Genetics recently hosted the 2nd Gary D. Stormo Computational & Systems Biology Lecture, featuring keynote speaker Timothy Hughes, PhD, who presented his talk, “Codebook: sequence specificity of human transcription factors.” As part of the event, the department proudly announced this year’s Stormo Fellowship in Computational and Systems Biology recipient: Jennie Yao, a PhD student in the labs of Dr. Obi Griffith and Dr. Malachi Griffith.
Graduate Student Emma Casey Awarded Prestigious CMB T32 Training Grant
Graduate student Emma Casey of the Jin lab has been appointed to the Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB) T32 Training Grant, a competitive program funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).