ASHG 2026 · Tier 1 Academic

Vanderbilt University at ASHG 2026

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

Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University at ASHG 2026 in Montréal: 19 presentations (18 posters, 1 platform talk); 11 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
Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee	17 PhD Students · 1 Undergrad
Bick Laboval-cyan-ljks.squarespace.com/team Wet + dry lab~17 people Analyzes BioVU, All of Us, UK Biobank, scDNA-seq and scRNA-seq data with computational genomics and experimental systems. Studies clonal hematopoiesis in cancer and cardiovascular disease. 203 papers since 2024 › Genomic data in the All of Us Research Program Nature, 2024 Diversity and scale: Genetic architecture of 2068 traits in the VA Million Veteran Program Science, 2024 Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential With Loss of Tet2 Enhances Risk for Atrial Fibrillation Through Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation Circulation, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5012759454 Funded by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, National Institutes of Health +2 more › Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, RUNX1-FPD single-cell inflammation study · active Philanthropic science funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. “Has been awarded a $2 million, four-year grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to study inflammation at the single-cell level in the rare disease RUNX1-FPD.” American Federation for Aging Research and Hevolution Foundation, New Investigator Award in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research · active “Has received a Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Award in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research from the American Federation for Aging Research and Hevolution Foundation.” National Institutes of Health, NIH Director’s Early Independence Award; NIH Common Fund High-Risk, High-Reward Research Program · 2020; up to five years “Has received a 2020 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s Early Independence Award. The award will provide $250,000 in direct research costs annually for up to five years.” +1 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 12 platforms and techniques › Analyzes scDNA-seq, scRNA-seq, Methylation sequencing, High-throughput sequencing, AWS, GCP Techniques Bioinformatics pipelines, Integrative multi-omics analysis, Deep learning, PBMC biobanking, NAMPT inhibitor studies, Single-cell multiomics Source: lab pages No openings posted	Talk Wed Oct 21 11:00 am Clonal hematopoiesis enables mutational epidemiology at biobank scale: Mutational signatures of 65,000 people connect environment to disease Clone Wars: Mutability and Its Consequences Collaborators: Vanderbilt Health EpidemiologyGene environment interactionMutation detectionSomatic variants Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Convergence of genetic and epigenetic association studies of clonal hematopoiesis identifies PRDM16, LRRC34 and AFF1 as regulators of hematopoietic stem cell fate Epigenomics Candidate geneDifferentiationEpigenome-wide association studiesGenome-wide association study Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Geographic variation of Clonal Hematopoiesis across the United States Cancer Collaborators: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Somatic variantsGenetic variationCancerGenetic epidemiology Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice The landscape of somatic Y chromosome loss across organs and cell types in aging Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Collaborators: Vanderbilt Health MosaicismSingle-cellGenetic epidemiologyRNA-seq Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Multi-Ancestry Immune Single-Cell Atlas in 313 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Participants Molecular Effects of Genetic Variation Expression quantitative trait lociSingle-cellTranscriptome Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Distinct chromatin and methylation landscapes drive lineage priming in TET2 and DNMT3A deficient hematopoietic progenitors Omics Technologies Collaborators: Vanderbilt Health EpigeneticsGenome editing/CRISPRHematopoietic systemMethylation
Below Labthebelowlab.com Dry lab~20 people Develops computational methods for genotyping arrays, whole-blood RNA-seq, whole-exome/genome sequencing, multi-omics and EHR-linked biobanks. Studies cardiometabolic disease, Alzheimer’s disease and stuttering in diverse cohorts. Funded by NIH, Vanderbilt University › NIH, R01 · active The NIH's standard multi-year research project grant. “Currently serves as PI of seven NIH funded R01s.” Vanderbilt University, Chancellor Faculty Fellow · 2020 “She was a 2020 Vanderbilt University Chancellor Faculty Fellow.” Source: lab pages 12 platforms and techniques › Analyzes Illumina Expanded Multi-Ethnic Genotyping Array (MEGA), Whole-blood RNA-seq, Whole-exome sequencing, Whole-genome sequencing Techniques Identity-by-descent mapping, Network analysis of related individuals, GWAS meta-analysis, Transcriptome-wide association studies, Polygenic risk scores, Mendelian randomization, Machine learning, Pedigree reconstruction and relatedness inference Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm ★ Reviewers’ Choice Exploration of C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions (HREs) across the phenome in a large-scale electronic health record linked biobank yields novel phenotypic associations. Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Boston Children's Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center BioinformaticsElectronic health recordsGenotype-phenotype correlationsNeurodegeneration Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Exploring genetic contributions to narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Genome-wide association studyComplex diseasesPolymorphism
Edwards Labmedsites.vumc.org/edwards-lab Dry lab Studies complex human traits using genome-wide arrays, next-generation sequencing and electronic health-record data. Projects include Million Veteran Program, UK Biobank and BioVU. 59 papers since 2024 › Genome-wide analysis in over 1 million individuals of European ancestry yields improved polygenic risk scores for blood pressure traits Nature Genetics, 2024 Adaptive selection at G6PD and disparities in diabetes complications Nature Medicine, 2024 Soluble glycoprotein VI predicts abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rate and is a novel therapeutic target Blood, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5004289607 Funded by NIH › NIH · active “multiple NIH-funded projects” Source: lab pages 9 platforms and techniques › Works with genome-wide arrays, next-generation sequencing platforms, whole genomes, exomes Techniques genome-wide association studies, genetic association studies, statistical methods and software, simulation of genetic data, genetic epidemiology Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “The Edwards Lab seeks highly motivated students to join our team of postdoctoral fellows, professional staff, students, and faculty.” Source: lab positions page	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Fine-Mapping and Regulatory Annotation of Shared Risk Loci Reveal Ancestry-Divergent Biology in Fibroproliferative and Inflammatory Disease Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Vanderbilt University Medical Center Genome-wide association studyGenetic epidemiologyPopulation geneticsGene regulation Moderator Thu Oct 22 1:30 pm EHR-Based Computational and AI Approaches in Clinical Genetics Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Multi-ancestry study of apparent treatment resistant hypertension identifies 171 novel loci Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Atlanta VA Medical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System +14 more Cardiovascular systemGenetic variationGenome-wide association studyLarge-scale biobanks
Hodges Lablab.vanderbilt.edu/hodges-lab/members Wet + dry lab~6 people Studies DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility and non-coding regulatory elements using ATAC-Me and ATAC-STARR-seq. Applies these methods to cell differentiation, cancer, disease susceptibility and evolution. 18 papers since 2024 › Temporally discordant chromatin accessibility and DNA demethylation define short- and long-term enhancer regulation during cell fate specification Cell Reports, 2025 Human gene regulatory evolution is driven by the divergence of regulatory element function in both cis and trans Cell Genomics, 2024 Enhancer-promoter activation by the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus episome maintenance protein LANA Cell Reports, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5001669149 5 platforms and techniques › Runs ATAC-Me, ATAC-STARR-seq Techniques Comparative DNA methylation profiling, Bioinformatic approaches, Enhancer and promoter regulation Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “POSTDOC POSITIONS AVAILABLE! Please email your CV to emily.hodges”at”vanderbilt.edu.” Source: lab positions page No funding stated	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Switched function regulatory elements drive gene expression differences between human and rhesus macaque immune cells Evolutionary and Population Genetics Collaborators: University of California, San Francisco, Vanderbilt University Medical Center ChromatinGene regulationGenomicsMassively parallel sequencing
Hodges Laboratorylab.vanderbilt.edu/hodges-lab Wet + dry lab~6 people Studies DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility with ATAC-Me and ATAC-STARR-seq. Examines gene regulation in evolution, development and disease. 18 papers since 2024 › Temporally discordant chromatin accessibility and DNA demethylation define short- and long-term enhancer regulation during cell fate specification Cell Reports, 2025 Human gene regulatory evolution is driven by the divergence of regulatory element function in both cis and trans Cell Genomics, 2024 Enhancer-promoter activation by the Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus episome maintenance protein LANA Cell Reports, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5001669149 9 platforms and techniques › Runs ATAC-Me, ATAC-STARR-seq, Array capture Techniques Comparative DNA methylation profiling, Functional genomics, Bioinformatics, Embryonic stem cells, Human patient data, Cross-species comparison Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “POSTDOC POSITIONS AVAILABLE! Please email your CV to emily.hodges”at”vanderbilt.edu.” Source: lab positions page No funding stated	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Modeling chromatin accessibility in islets predicts disruption of PAM enhancer by a common Type 2 Diabetes associated variant Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Collaborators: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Vanderbilt University Medical Center ChromatinMachine learningDiabetes
Lea Lablea-lab.org/team.html Wet + dry lab~12 people Uses environmental, genomic and health data plus STARR-seq and mSTARR-seq assays. Studies gene regulation and genotype-by-environment effects in Turkana, Orang Asli and Cayo Santiago populations. 54 papers since 2024 › Nonuniversality of inflammaging across human populations Nature Aging, 2025 DNA methylation signatures of early-life adversity are exposure-dependent in wild baboons Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2024 DNA methylation-environment interactions in the human genome eLife, 2024 Source: OpenAlex author A5088890784 Funded by NIH, NSF +1 more › NIH, NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship · active “Marina Watowich (she/her) is an NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow in the Lea Lab.” NSF, Graduate Research Fellowship · active “Audrey (she/her) is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the Lea lab.” NIH, T32 Graduate Research Fellowship · active “Layla (she/her) is an NIH T32 Graduate Research Fellow in the Lea Lab.” Source: lab pages 8 platforms and techniques › Works with STARR-seq, mSTARR-seq, bisulfite sequencing Techniques massively parallel reporter assays, multi-tissue DNA methylation analyses, immortalized cell lines, non-human primates, rhesus macaques Source: lab pages No openings posted	Poster Fri Oct 23 2:30 pm Local ancestry modulation of bacterial infection response in the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia Evolutionary and Population Genetics Collaborators: University of Malaya, University of Calgary +2 more Population geneticsGene environment interactionGene regulationGenetic mapping
SYMBIO-X Labduyayun.github.io/member.html Wet + dry lab~13 people Develops multimodal wireless wearable and implantable bioelectronic sensors with signal processing, machine learning and human-robot interaction. Applications include health monitoring, disease diagnosis and medical robotics. 8 papers since 2024 › A skin-interfaced wireless wearable device and data analytics approach for sleep-stage and disorder detection Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025 Ultralow-Cost Hydrogel Electrolytes Based on Agricultural Byproducts for Distributed Electrophysiological Recording in Resource-Limited Settings ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2025 Continuous wireless sensor monitoring with applied diagnostics: Clinical Sensor Pain Scale and Automated Sensor Pain Scale in the NICU BMJ Health & Care Informatics, 2025 Source: OpenAlex author A5069571691 Funded by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture +2 more › National Science Foundation, CAREER Award #2047663 · 2021-2026 “National Science Foundation CAREER Award # 2047663, MaLPhySiCS - Machine Learning-assisted Physics-based Simulation and Control of Soft robots” National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, Grant # 2021-67022-34200 · 2021-2025 “Autonomous Robotic Systems for Precision Weed Control in Flax, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture” National Science Foundation, CCRI Award #2213839 · 2022-2024 “CCRI: Planning-C: A Framework for Development of Robots and IoT for Precision Agriculture” +1 more on the lab page Source: lab pages 12 platforms and techniques › Runs skin-interfaced wireless wearable device, wearable mechano-acoustic sensors, Wearable EXG, two-channel implantable battery-free EXG Techniques signal processing, machine learning, reinforcement learning, circuit design, embedded system programming, sensor fusion, SLAM, electrophysiological recording Source: lab pages Currently hiring › “We are actively looking for one postdoc in bioresorbable materials or general material science to work on multimodal wireless bioelectronics.” Source: lab positions page	Poster Thu Oct 22 4:15 pm Evaluating Large Language Models for Generating Phenotype–Genotype Associations Using External Genomic Knowledge Bases Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Artificial intelligenceGenome-wide association studyGenotype-phenotype correlationsSNP analysis/discovery
Aldrich/Below Labs Works in cancer genetics.	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Exploring Phenotypic Associations in Early-Onset Lung Cancer Cancer Collaborators: Vanderbilt University Medical Center CancerElectronic health recordsPhenome-wide associationPublic health
Music Cognition Lab Works in population genetics.	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Brain circuitry supporting singing behaviors is genetically correlated with several dimensions of human mental health Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Vanderbilt University Medical Center BehaviorComplex traitsGenome-wide association studyBrain/nervous system
Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center Works in population genetics.	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Single-Cell TWAS Identifies Cell Type-Specific Susceptibility Genes and Druggable Targets for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology Collaborators: Vanderbilt University Medical Center TranscriptomeRNA-seqAutoimmune disorderPrecision medicine
Velez Edwards and Hellwege Labs Works in reproductive and prenatal genetics.	Poster Wed Oct 21 2:30 pm Novel genes and biology for uterine fibroids risk identified using rare coding variants and differential gene expression Complex Traits and Polygenic Disorders Collaborators: Vanderbilt Health, Meharry Medical College +2 more Women's healthExome/genome sequencingSNP analysis/discoveryRNA-seq
1 more presenter — research group not yet identified

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