IIHG Divisions

Bioinformatics

Clinical

Education

Genomics

Donate to the IIHG

We are the people behind the scenes of the research projects that help keep the University of Iowa on the cutting edge of science. From cancer to cystic fibrosis to muscular dystrophy, we perform the lab tests and we do the analyses to help researchers achieve their ultimate goal of improving healthcare for you and your family. 

We also prepare today's undergraduates to be tomorrow's graduate students and your future researchers and healthcare providers. Over 50% of our summer interns successfully attend graduate school and pursue careers in STEM fields including Genetic Counseling, Medicine, Nursing, Computational Biology and Molecular Genetics. 

Genetics Cluster Initiative

Genetics transcends departments, colleges and disciplines and generates both needs and services in the basic sciences, health care, bioethics, law, bioinformatics and communications.

The Genetics Cluster Initiative at the University of Iowa includes professors from each of the aforementioned specialties, providing for a true round table discussion and collaborative approach to the unique nuances of personalized genomic medicine. 

Ask an Expert

Ask a member of the Iowa Institute of Human Genetics your genetics-related question. Complete this online form and we will be happy to assist you

How to Draw a Pedigree

What is Genetic Counseling?

How does genetic testing work?

YouTube Channel

What is Personalized Genomic Medicine?

Recent Publications

PI3K regulates TAZ/YAP and mTORC1 axes that can be synergistically targeted

Thursday, February 12, 2026
Keith C Garcia
Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of cancers with few shared therapeutic targets. We show that PI3K signaling is frequently activated in sarcomas due to PTEN loss (in 30-60%), representing a common therapeutic target. The PI3K pathway has lacked a downstream oncogenic transcription factor. We show TAZ and YAP are transcriptional co-activators regulated by PI3K and drive a transcriptome necessary for tumor growth in a PI3K-driven sarcoma mouse model. This PI3K-TAZ/YAP axis exists in parallel to...

Spatial transcriptomics analysis uncovers ER stress in MANF-deficient Purkinje cells underlying alcohol-induced cerebellar neurodegeneration in mice

Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Wen Wen
Alcohol use disorders (AUD) is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the United States affecting more than 10% of the adult population. Cerebellar atrophy and Purkinje cell (PC) degeneration are frequently observed in patients with AUD. Alcohol can cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in PCs and alter PC structure and function. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is an ER stress inducible protein highly expressed in PCs. It is neuroprotective in various ER...

EHE cell cultures are a platform for mechanistic and therapeutic investigation

Friday, October 10, 2025
Nicholas Scalora
Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a difficult to treat vascular sarcoma defined by TAZ-CAMTA1 (TC) or YAP-TFE3 (YT) fusion proteins. Human cell lines needed to further understand the pathogenesis of EHE have been lacking. Herein, we describe a method to generate EHE extended primary cell cultures. An integrated multi -omic and functional approach was used to characterize these cultures. The cell cultures, relatively homogenous by single cell RNA-Seq, demonstrated established...

Extracellular Vesicles-Induced Cell Homing and Odontogenesis via microRNA Signaling for Dentin Regeneration

Thursday, August 14, 2025
Venkateswaran Ganesh
Reparative tertiary dentinogenesis requires the recruitment and odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) as bioactive molecules have gained attention in regenerative medicine for their ability to mediate tissue repair through intercellular communication, influencing cell recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of EVs on DPSC homing and odontogenic differentiation for dentin regeneration....

Utility of Genetic Information for Management in Kidney Transplantation and Living Donation

Friday, July 18, 2025
Yasar Caliskan
Kidney transplantation is the best treatment for kidney failure in eligible patients, significantly improving survival and quality of life. While short-term post-transplant survival has improved, long-term outcomes remain limited. Advances in genetic research have the potential to transform kidney transplantation. The shortage of donor organs underscores the need for improved organ availability, optimized immunosuppression, and enhanced monitoring to minimize repeat transplants. Improved...

Events

Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Seminar, Christian Candler promotional image

Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Seminar, Christian Candler

Thursday, March 5, 2026 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building

REDCap Surveys Training

Thursday, March 5, 2026 10:00am to 11:00am
Virtual

This is the third step in the REDCap training series. In this training, we will cover survey configuration and distribution such as:

Allowing potential participants to self-initiate participation in your study with public surveys

Manually and automatically sending surveys

Administering electronic consent (e-consent) forms

Controlling survey access with conditional logic and survey login

This training is a demo and not hands-on. After this training you will have a basic understanding of surveys in...

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. David Kast promotional image

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. David Kast

Thursday, March 5, 2026 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility

This event is open to the public.

Organelle Dynamics in Metabolism and Immunity

David Kast, PhD
WashU Medicine

Faculty Host: Kris DeMali, PhD