Gonçalo Abecasis

ISMBECCB13-014

Gonçalo Abecasis is a geneticist and biostatistician known for his contributions to the field of genomics and statistical genetics. He is a professor at the University of Michigan and has made significant advancements in the understanding of the genetic basis of human diseases.

Early Life and Education

Gonçalo Abecasis was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He completed his undergraduate studies in genetics at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. He then pursued a Ph.D. in biostatistics at the University of Oxford, where he worked under the supervision of Lon Cardon.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Abecasis joined the faculty at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. He has been involved in numerous large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and has developed several widely used statistical methods and software tools for genetic analysis.

Research Contributions

Abecasis's research focuses on the development of statistical methods for the analysis of genetic data. He has contributed to the understanding of the genetic architecture of complex traits and diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and psychiatric disorders. Some of the key software tools developed by his group include MERLIN, MINIMAC, and HapMap.

Awards and Honors

Gonçalo Abecasis has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field of genetics, including the Curt Stern Award from the American Society of Human Genetics and the Overton Prize from the International Society for Computational Biology.

Personal Life

Abecasis resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his family. He continues to be actively involved in research and mentoring the next generation of geneticists and biostatisticians.

See Also

• Genomics
• Biostatistics
• Genome-wide association study
• University of Michigan
• American Society of Human Genetics