IPHG Student Blog
Drawing from a wide variety of disciplines, IPHG students incorporate a multitude of interests into their research. The IPHG student-produced blog is a platform for students to highlight interesting research, their own research topics and spotlight fellow students in the program. This is a great way to learn more about IPHG students and the interdisciplinary work they do in Public Health Genetics.
Student Spotlight: Diane Xue, PhD Candidate
The School of Public Health recently spotlighted Diane Xue, PhD candidate, for her work on genetic and environemental risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Diane was recently awarded a Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) from the National Institute on Aging to support her dissertation and post-doctoral research. Read about Diane's research and how the IPHG PhD program supports her interdisciplinary perspective.
Student Spotlight: Hang Yin, PhD Candidate
The School of Public Health recently spotlighted PhD candidate Hang Yi. Hang matriculated into the PhD program in IPHG after earning an MS in Epidemiology at the UW School of Public Health. Hang's research focuses on improving health equity in the field of cancer research in the context of public health genetics. Hang was recently awarded a Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) from the National Cancer Institute to support her dissertation and post-doctoral research. Hang discusses her research and how the IPHG PhD program is providing her opportunities to further her research on the SPH Blog.
IPHG Welcomes New Director
In July 2023, the Institute for Public Health Genetics welcomed Dr. Brian Shirts as its new director. Taking over the role from recently retired Dr. Bruce Weir, Dr. Shirts enters the role of director after many years as an active and dedicated member of the IPHG faculty.
Dr. Shirts' appointment was featured on the SPH blog:
Brian Shirts was appointed to the role of director of the Institute for Public Health Genetics at UW SPH effective July 1, 2023. A board-certified physician specializing in genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk and other complex traits, he strives to provide top-tier genetic testing for all patients. Brian earned his M.D. and Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh and holds board certifications in clinical pathology and molecular genetic pathology. With an academic appointment of associate professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at the UW, his research focuses on improving strategies for detecting and classifying rare mutations, enhancing communication about genetic testing results, and personalized health care using genetic information. Shirts' leadership roles include president of the non-profit ConnectMyVariant and associate director of Genetics and Solid Tumor Laboratory.