Utah Center for Genetic Discovery

Yang Lab and collaborators discovered early fate determinations of neural crest-derived ganglia

2026-04-15T21:22:17Z

A groundbreaking new study led by the Yang lab and Dr. Joseph Gleeson’s Group at the University of California, San Diego, has revealed surprising insights into how the cells responsible for building much of the peripheral nervous system make their major life decisions far earlier than scientists previously believed. The study was published in Nature in April 2026. Read More

Welcome Alexis Garretson, a new PostDoc in the Quinlan Lab!

2025-08-28T14:10:54Z

We are thrilled to announce that Alexis joined the Quinlan Lab in September 2025. Her research focuses on leveraging genetic diversity and computational techniques to...

Christina Akirtava has joined the Marth Lab as a postdoctoral researcher!

2026-04-15T20:37:08Z

We are thrilled to announce that Christina Akirtava has joined the Marth Lab as a postdoctoral researcher! Her expertise will undoubtedly enhance our research efforts...

Parts of Our DNA May Evolve Much Faster than Previously Though

2026-04-15T20:11:54Z

Researchers including Lynn Jorde, PhD, Deborah Neklason, PhD and Aaron Quinlan, PhD, have created the most detailed atlas yet of how human DNA mutates across generations, uncovering that some regions of the genome change much faster than previously known. Read the full article here.

Dr. Bennet Peterson delivered a compelling presentation as a speaker at the 2025 Genomic Medicine Symposium.

2026-04-15T20:05:44Z

Bennet Peterson, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in human genetics at U of U Health, focused on how to quickly identify newborn patients who are most likely to benefit from whole-genome sequencing so that patients in need don’t fall through the cracks. Read more

Congratulations to Mark Yandell on his One-U RAI Faculty Fellowship Award!!

2026-04-15T20:06:07Z

One-U RAI Announces Inaugural Awardees: Seven Faculty Fellows and One Distinguished Visitor. Read More

Human Genetics Retreat 2024

2024-10-22T15:13:13Z

This year’s Human Genetics Retreat took place on October 18-19, 2024 at Snowpine Lodge up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Thank you for your time during our Alta retreat, we are grateful for your engagement and for sharing your science and creative ideas to make our community even better.

Aaron Quinlan, PhD, Appointed Chair of the Department of Human Genetics

2024-08-16T19:33:33Z

Aaron Quinlan, PhD, has been appointed Chair of the Department of Human Genetics in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at University of Utah Health, effective August 19, 2024. READ MORE

ISABEL SERRANO WILL BE STARTING AS A POSTDOC IN QUINLAN’S LAB IN OCTOBER 2024!!!

2024-06-27T16:30:40Z

Isabel Serrano is a PhD Candidate in Computational Biology at the University of California, Berkeley will be joining the Quinlan Lab in October 2024!!

Harriet Dashnow is starting her lab at CU Anschutz on July 1, 2024!!

2024-06-27T16:41:13Z

Harriet Dashnow starts a faculty job as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Camps on...