ASHG 2026 · Tier 1 Academic

University of California, Los Angeles at ASHG 2026

Name: ASHG 2026 Annual Meeting
Start: 2026-10-20
End: 2026-10-24
Location: Montréal

Los Angeles, California

University of California, Los Angeles at ASHG 2026 in Montréal: 19 presentations (16 posters, 2 platform talks, 1 lightning talk); 15 research groups.

presentations on the program

research groups identified

sessions invited to or moderated

Reviewers’ Choice abstracts

Explore everyone at ASHG 2026 →

Organization	ASHG 2026 Attendance
University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California	9 PhD Students · 5 PIs · 1 Postdoc
Pajukanta Research Labpajukantalab.dgsom.ucla.edu Dry lab~9 people Uses single-cell RNA-seq, ATAC-seq and biobank genetic and phenotypic data. Studies obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and MASLD. 34 papers since 2024 › Adipose tissue eQTL meta-analysis highlights the contribution of allelic heterogeneity to gene expression regulation and cardiometabolic traits Nature Genetics, 2025 Partitioned polygenic risk scores identify distinct types of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease Nature Medicine, 2024 Age-dependent genes in adipose stem and precursor cells affect regulation of fat cell differentiation and link aging to obesity via cellular and genetic interactions Genome Medicine, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5065249658 12 platforms and techniques › Analyzes single-cell RNA-sequencing, bulk RNA-sequencing, ATAC-sequencing, droplet-based single-nucleus RNA-seq, single-cell RNA+ATAC multiome, single-cell DNA methylome Techniques integrative genomic approaches, semi-supervised machine learning, deep learning, cis-eQTL analysis, genetic demultiplexing, polygenic risk scoring Source: lab pages No funding stated · No openings posted	Talk Wed Oct 21 1:55 pm Deep learning-based framework discovers adipose tissue -resolved plasma protein biomarkers for steatotic liver disease Advances in Population Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, and Omics Collaborators: University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital +2 more Complex diseasesDeep learningDiagnosticsProteomics Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Deep learning-based framework discovers adipose tissue -resolved plasma protein biomarkers for steatotic liver disease Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Collaborators: University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital +2 more Complex diseasesDeep learningDiagnosticsProteomics Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Sex-specific trajectories during human fat cell differentiation reveal predictive and putatively causal plasma protein biomarkers for cardiometabolic disease Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Collaborators: University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital DiagnosticsHeritabilityLarge-scale biobanksProteomics Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Individuals with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide therapy and carrying GLP1R missense variant, rs10305420, have increased differentiation of metabolically active fat cells Pharmacogenomics Collaborators: University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital DiabetesObesityPharmacogenomicsSingle-cell
Sriram Labweb.cs.ucla.edu/… Dry lab~13 people Develops statistical methods for UCLA Hospital electronic medical records, UK Biobank genotypes and ancient DNA sequences. Studies population history, complex traits and clinical outcomes. 40 papers since 2024 › Estimation and mapping of the missing heritability of human phenotypes Nature, 2025 Personalized mood prediction from patterns of behavior collected with smartphones npj Digital Medicine, 2024 A scalable and robust variance components method reveals insights into the architecture of gene-environment interactions underlying complex traits The American Journal of Human Genetics, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5049741676 Funded by NIH, NIH +2 more › NIH, R01: Multimodal Omics Approach to Identify Health to Cardiometabolic Disease Transitions · 2023–2027 The NIH's standard multi-year research project grant. “NIH R01: Multimodal Omics Approach to Identify Health to Cardiometabolic Disease Transitions, 2023 – 2027 (Co-I).” NIH, R01: Improving the Interpretability of Genetic Studies of Major Depressive Disorder To Identify Risk Genes · 2022–2027 The NIH's standard multi-year research project grant. “NIH R01: Improving the Interpretability of Genetic Studies of Major Depressive Disorder To Identify Risk Genes, 2022 – 2027 (Co-I).” NIH, R01: Epigenetic Mechanisms Linking Psychosocial Stress with Coronary Heart Disease · 2022–2026 The NIH's standard multi-year research project grant. “NIH R01: Epigenetic Mechanisms Linking Psychosocial Stress with Coronary Heart Disease, 2022–2026 (subaward PI).” +1 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 10 platforms and techniques › Analyzes UCLA Hospitals electronic medical records, UK Biobank, 1000 Genomes, SGDP Techniques Machine learning, Bayesian statistics, Population genetic inference, Genetic association and trait prediction, Ancestry inference, Mendelian randomization Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We are looking for a highly-motivated postdoctoral fellow with strong background in statistics and computation” Source: lab positions page	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Disentangling phenotype scale, amplification, and effect heterogeneity underlying polygenic GxE architecture of complex traits Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Complex traitsGene environment interactionHeritabilityLarge-scale biobanks Talk Thu Oct 22 9:30 am Genome-wide LD scores allow robust heritability and genetic correlation from summary statistics across ancestries From Labels to Landscapes: Leveraging Local Ancestry and the Ancestry Continuum to Maximize Cross-Ancestry Association Population geneticsLinkage disequilibriumComplex traitsHeritability
ARBOLEDA LAB at UCLAarboledalab.org/arboleda-lab-team Wet + dry lab~8 people Studies rare chromatin-modifier disease with RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, methylation-seq, CLIP-seq, Hi-C and patient-specific iPSC models. Uses CRISPR-Cas9 and GWAS data to connect mutations with human disease. 16 papers since 2024 › Th2 skewing in patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis JCI Insight, 2026 Investigating the sources of variable impact of pathogenic variants in monogenic metabolic conditions Nature Communications, 2025 Electronic health record signatures identify undiagnosed patients with common variable immunodeficiency disease Science Translational Medicine, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5079692842 Funded by Early Independence Award, The KAT6A Foundation +1 more › The KAT6A Foundation · active “The KAT6A Foundation” ASXL Rare Research Endowment · active “ASXL Rare Research Endowment” Early Independence Award · 2017 “Early Independence Award, 2017” Source: lab pages 12 platforms and techniques › Works with RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, methylation-seq, CLIP-seq, Hi-C, ATAC-seq, GWAS datasets Techniques CRISPR-Cas9, Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell lines, Cerebral organoids, Multi-omics pipeline, Genetic engineering Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We have an opening for a post-doctoral fellow to work on a variety of human genomics related projects.” Source: lab positions page	Talk Thu Oct 22 9:30 am BRPF1 haploinsufficiency disrupts Wnt signaling during human neurodevelopment Chromatin in Motion: Epigenetic Control of Brain Development and Disease Collaborators: University of the Philippines Manila NeurodevelopmentalChromatinMolecular pathophysiologyStem cell
Geschwind Labgeschwindlab.com Wet + dry lab~45 people Uses whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing, genotyping, transcriptomics and epigenetic profiling. Studies autism, FTD and PSP with UCSF Memory and Aging Center and PsychENCODE. 115 papers since 2024 › Single-cell genomics and regulatory networks for 388 human brains Science, 2024 Single-cell multi-cohort dissection of the schizophrenia transcriptome Science, 2024 Molecular cascades and cell type–specific signatures in ASD revealed by single-cell genomics Science, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5018481303 Funded by NIH, NIMH +8 more › NIH · active ““funding support from the NIH”” NIMH · active ““NIMH”” NIA · active ““NIA”” +7 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 15 platforms and techniques › Works with Whole-genome sequencing, Whole-exome sequencing, Genotyping of polymorphic markers, Transcriptomics, Chromatin accessibility, Epigenetic marks, Transcription-factor binding, 3-dimensional chromatin folding Techniques Genetic engineering, CRISPR screens, CRISPR activation, Cortical organoids, Rodent models, Human neural stem cells, Systems biology Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Multiomic and Multiregional Profiling in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Mayo Clinic, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Brain/nervous systemNeurodegenerationMulti-omicsSingle-cell
Kruglyak Research Labkruglyak.genetics.ucla.edu Wet + dry lab~16 people Runs DNA extraction, library prep and sequencing of yeasts, worms and plasmids; performs computational analyses. Studies the genetic basis of heritable traits and phenotypic variation. 20 papers since 2024 › Regeneration leads to global tissue rejuvenation in aging sexual planarians Nature Aging, 2025 Single-cell eQTL mapping in yeast reveals a tradeoff between growth and reproduction eLife, 2025 Accurate Prediction of Children’s Target Height from Their Mid-Parental Height Children, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5023392469 Funded by Howard Hughes Medical Institute › Howard Hughes Medical Institute, HHMI Investigator · since 2008 Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator or fellow funding. “Dr. Kruglyak has also been an Investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) since 2008” Source: lab pages 9 platforms and techniques › Works with DNA sequencing of yeasts, worms and plasmids, Whole-genome sequencing, Genome-wide expression profiling Techniques CRISPR-based mapping, Single-cell eQTL mapping, DNA extraction, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans, Yeast population genetics Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We actively recruit, support, and value students, postdocs, and staff members” Source: lab positions page	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Deep mutational scanning of human ACAT1 in a humanized yeast model to generate a clinical variant-function map Epigenomics Characterization of disordersGenome editing/CRISPRMassively parallel sequencingRare variants
Neale Labnealelab.is Dry lab~24 people Develops statistical methods for GWAS, SNP arrays, WES, WGS and EHR data. Studies psychiatric disorders with UK Biobank and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. 83 papers since 2024 › Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder Nature, 2025 Author Correction: A genomic mutational constraint map using variation in 76,156 human genomes Nature, 2024 Pan-UK Biobank GWAS improves discovery, analysis of genetic architecture, and resolution into ancestry-enriched effects medRxiv, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5015235673 16 platforms and techniques › Analyzes SNP arrays, Whole-exome sequencing (WES), Whole-genome sequencing (WGS), RNA-seq, ExomeChip, PsychChip, Hail, LD Hub Techniques GWAS, Data harmonization and QC, LD Score regression, Genetic correlation, Polygenic risk scores, Mendelian randomization, Rare-variant association, Gene-environment interaction analysis Source: lab pages No funding stated · No openings posted	Moderator Wed Oct 21 1:30 pm Advances in Population Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, and Omics Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Optimizing polygenic interaction scores to improve detection of gene-environment interactions Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Broad Institute Gene environment interactionGenome-wide association studyPolygenic risk score
Pimentel Labpimentellab.com Dry lab~8 people Develops statistical models for deep mutational scanning, CRISPR screens, Cell Villages and Perturb-seq. Uses human genetics to study gene function, pharmacogenomics and gene-environment interactions. 21 papers since 2024 › kallisto, bustools and kb-python for quantifying bulk, single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-seq Nature Protocols, 2024 Rosace: a robust deep mutational scanning analysis framework employing position and mean-variance shrinkage Genome biology, 2024 Mapping kinase domain resistance mechanisms for the MET receptor tyrosine kinase via deep mutational scanning eLife, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5086863480 11 platforms and techniques › Analyzes Deep mutational scanning, FACS-based deep mutational scanning, CRISPR screens, Perturb-seq, Massively Parallel Reporter Assays, Census-seq Techniques modern statistical inference, experimental design, pharmacogenomic analysis, gene-environment interaction analysis, gene-gene interaction analysis Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We currently have a position open jointly with [name].” Source: lab positions page No funding stated	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Robust Gene-Environment Interaction Testing Under Confounded Exposure Assignment in Observational Biobanks Cancer Gene environment interactionGenetic epidemiologyLarge-scale biobanksPharmacogenomics
Spellman Research Labspellmanlab.healthsciences.ucla.edu Wet + dry lab~17 people Analyzes single-sample bulk whole-genome and long-read sequencing data with computational genomics. Studies cancer development, precision medicine and hereditary cancer screening. 38 papers since 2024 › HER2 heterogeneity and treatment response–associated profiles in HER2-positive breast cancer in the NCT02326974 clinical trial Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2024 Analytical validation of HER2DX genomic test for early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer ESMO Open, 2024 The Cancer Genome Atlas Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Reports, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5044658654 Funded by Not stated › Not stated, Genome Data Analysis Network · active “Current funded research focuses on systematic analysis of genetic and gene regulation information in clinical cohorts as part of the Genome Data Analysis Network” Source: lab pages 7 platforms and techniques › Analyzes Single-sample bulk whole-genome sequencing, Long-read sequencing, Mass spectrometry Techniques Patient-derived organoid cancer models, High-molecular-weight genomic DNA extraction, Population genetics, Genomic data analysis Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Phased, chromosome-scale assembly of a paired germline and tumor genome from a high-grade serous ovarian cancer patient Cancer CancerExome/genome sequencingGenomic structureLong-read sequencing
UCLA Center for Neurobehavioral Geneticsneurogen.semel.ucla.edu Wet + dry lab~8 people Uses high-throughput genotyping, DNA sequencing, gene-expression analysis and epigenetic screening to study neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. Works across human and model-organism phenotypes. 20 papers since 2024 › Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder Nature, 2025 Personalized mood prediction from patterns of behavior collected with smartphones npj Digital Medicine, 2024 Genome-Wide Association Study Meta-Analysis of 9619 Cases With Tic Disorders Biological Psychiatry, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5025278422 Funded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) +1 more › National Institute of Health, Training Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics · since 2005 “funded by the National Institute of Health since 2005” National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS), Training Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics · active “jointly funded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).” National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Training Program in Neurobehavioral Genetics · active “jointly funded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).” Source: lab pages 12 platforms and techniques › Works with DNA sequencing, High-throughput genotyping, Array-based expression, Epigenetic screening, Gene-expression analysis Techniques Genetic manipulation of model organisms, Bioinformatics, statistics and cell biology, Behavioral phenotyping, Population genetics and functional genomics, Stem-cell-based organoid and mouse models, Mouse-strain circuit techniques, High-throughput drug screening Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm An Intermediate-Frequency Frameshift Variant in ADAP1 Confers Large Risk for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Universidad de Antioquia BehaviorExome/genome sequencingGenotype-phenotype correlationsPsychiatric genetics
UCLA Tanigawa Labtanigawalab.org Dry lab~7 people Develops statistical models on UK Biobank, population-scale genomic and single-cell transcriptomics data. Uses human genetics, causal inference and AI to dissect disease heterogeneity and nominate targets. 11 papers since 2024 › Single-cell multiregion epigenomic rewiring in Alzheimer’s disease progression and cognitive resilience Cell, 2025 PRISM: ancestry-aware integration of tissue-specific genomic annotations enhances the transferability of polygenic scores bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), 2025 A polygenic score method boosted by non-additive models Nature Communications, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5003493606 Funded by Japan Science and Technology Agency › Japan Science and Technology Agency, JST PRESTO · three-and-a-half year “Yosuke received a JST PRESTO award from the Japan Science and Technology Agency” Source: lab pages 10 platforms and techniques › Analyzes single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, ChIP-seq, whole-genome sequencing Techniques cross-trait polygenic prediction, causal inference, representation learning, optimal transport, singular value decomposition, Alzheimer’s disease mouse models Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “The Tanigawa Lab has Postdoc openings.” Source: lab positions page	Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Dissecting Alzheimer’s disease heterogeneity by cross-trait polygenic prediction Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Broad Institute, Rush University Medical Center Alzheimer’s diseasePolygenic risk scoreComplex diseasesStatistical genetics Moderator Fri Oct 23 1:30 pm New Machine Learning Approaches in Genetics and Genomics
Wells Lab @ UCLAmfwellslab.com/labmembers Wet + dry lab~14 people Builds cell villages from human stem cells and analyzes genetic, molecular and cellular phenotypes. Uses them to study brain development, environmental exposures and drug safety. 6 papers since 2024 › Cell villages and Dirichlet modeling map human cell fitness genetics The American Journal of Human Genetics, 2026 βIV spectrin abundancy, cellular distribution and sensitivity to AKT/GSK3 regulation in schizophrenia Molecular Psychiatry, 2025 Protocol for neurogenin-2-mediated induction of human stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells STAR Protocols, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5036421106 Funded by National Institutes of Health, Simons Foundation +3 more › National Institutes of Health · active “We are funded by the National Institutes of Health, Simons Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.” Simons Foundation · active “We are funded by the National Institutes of Health, Simons Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.” Burroughs Wellcome Fund · active “We are funded by the National Institutes of Health, Simons Foundation, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.” +2 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 10 platforms and techniques › Runs Cell village platform, Phase 0 clinical safety trials in a dish Techniques Cell-village culture and multimodal analysis, SNaP neural induction, Townlet bioinformatics, Neurogenin-2-mediated neural progenitor induction, Cerebral organoids, Ptchd1 and Shank3 conditional-knockout mouse models, Drug-response and toxicity assays, Population genetics in a dish Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We are currently looking for postdoctoral researchers to join us.” Source: lab positions page	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Optical Cell Villages Reveal Donor-Specific Drug Response Dynamics Pharmacogenomics Brain/nervous systemGenetic variationMethodologyPharmacogenomics
HPRC Embedded ELSI Teamhumanpangenome.org/hprc-embedded-elsi ~15 people Studies ethical, legal, social, cultural and historical implications of pangenome sequences and cell lines. Advises HPRC and engages stakeholders, rights-holders and Indigenous communities. 20 papers since 2024 › Advancing genomics to improve health equity Nature Genetics, 2024 Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Bioethics: Recommendations from the Association of Bioethics Program Directors Presidential Task Force The American Journal of Bioethics, 2024 Exploring the role of digital tools in rare disease management: An interview‐based study Journal of Genetic Counseling, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5090308794 Funded by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) › National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) · active “The HPRC and its ELSI Team, supported by NHGRI, is a part of this legacy.” Source: lab pages 4 platforms and techniques › Techniques harmonizing consent documents, CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, community-based research approaches, public, stakeholder and rights-holder engagement Source: lab pages No openings posted	Session Sat Oct 24 8:15 am The Human Pangenome Release 3: Data, Tools, Applications, and Ethics
Balliu Labbrunildaballiu.github.io Dry lab~10 people Analyzes population-scale RNA and ATAC sequencing, smartphone and wearable data, and electronic health records. Studies genetic and environmental mechanisms of metabolic and psychiatric phenotypes. 33 papers since 2024 › Comparing self reported and physiological sleep quality from consumer devices to depression and neurocognitive performance npj Digital Medicine, 2025 Deciphering the impact of genomic variation on function Nature, 2024 Personalized mood prediction from patterns of behavior collected with smartphones npj Digital Medicine, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5036743041 Funded by UCLA, UCLA Faculty Women's Club +4 more › UCLA, Competitive Edge Summer Transition to the Doctorate Research Program · Aug 2026 “Anshi, an incoming Biomathematics PhD student, is doing UCLA's Competitive Edge Summer Transition to the Doctorate Research Program with us.” UCLA Faculty Women's Club, Endowed Scholarship · Jul 2026 “Karen receives the UCLA Faculty Women's Club Endowed Scholarship.” Abdelmonem A. Afifi Departmental Student Fellowship in Biostatistics · Jun 2026 “Amaan receives the Abdelmonem A. Afifi Departmental Student Fellowship in Biostatistics.” +3 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 16 platforms and techniques › Analyzes RNA sequencing, ATAC sequencing, single-cell multiome, single-cell RNA-seq, smartphone data, wearable sensor data, electronic health records Techniques context-specific eQTL mapping, GWAS analysis, cross-context TWAS, causal TWAS, cellular perturbation, gene-by-environment methods, digital phenotyping, fine-mapping, machine learning Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We have an opening for quantitatively skilled PhDs to study the impact of genomic variation on the gene regulatory networks of reprogramming” Source: lab positions page	Moderator Thu Oct 22 1:30 pm EHR-Based Computational and AI Approaches in Clinical Genetics
Brennand Labbrennandlab.org Research group.	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Assessing the impact of genetic variation on THC and CBD response in Human Neurons Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Gene environment interaction
Ophoff Lab Works in population genetics.	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Uncovering the Structural Genome in Tourette Syndrome: From Indels to Large-Scale Variants Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Massachusetts General Hospital, Broad Institute +2 more Copy number/structural variationExome/genome sequencingNeurodevelopmentalPsychiatric genetics
3 more presenters — research group not yet identified

Meeting University of California, Los Angeles in Montréal?

Get in-depth attendee and institution profiles and research, to plan your meetings in Montréal. Leave your work email and we’ll be in touch.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Society of Human Genetics. Submit a correction