Loic Yengo, PhD, has been named a recipient of the 2024-2025 UCSF Presidential Chair Award and will be appointed as a distinguished visiting associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics from January 1–March 31, 2025.
Recognizing his deep scholarship of genome-wide association studies, Dr. Yengo will assist UCSF colleagues in establishing the Center for Diversity in Precision Health (CDPH) to build research capacity from diverse backgrounds, while promoting team science. Dr. Yengo intends to support and advance the CDPH by helping develop coursework and mentorship plans for colleagues and trainees doing work in this field, as well as expand the data resources for researchers.
“This chair is a unique opportunity for exchanging experience between the University of Queensland and UCSF,” said Dr. Yengo. “I look forward to contributing to the CDPH and building long-term collaborations between our institutions.”
Dr. Yengo will bring his expertise in the analysis of genome-wide association studies and experience in developing new statistical models for analyzing big genomic data. Through his research, Dr. Yengo has applied these methods in developing technologies that predict disease risk based on an individual’s unique DNA profile. He also studies the interaction between social and environmental factors that influence common disorders and will advise on the development of genetic epidemiologic studies focused on social determinants of health and health disparities.
Dr. Yengo is currently associate professor at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience. He is also one of two 2024 recipients of the Snow Medical Foundation Fellowship, and recently announced recipient of the 2024 Early Career Award of the American Society of Human Genetics. Dr. Yengo has co-authored more than 125 research articles in his field and has been awarded more than $10 million in competitive funding since 2019.
The UCSF Presidential Chair Award is intended to encourage new or interdisciplinary program development or to enhance the quality of existing academic programs at the University. To meet this broad goal of contributing to the enrichment of campus academic life, UCSF allocates Presidential Chair funding to support the appointments of distinguished visiting professors for up to one year.
The University has also awarded 2024-2025 UCSF Presidential Chair Awards to Address Mauakowa Malata, FAAN, PhD, MSc, BSc, and Olle ten Cate, PhD. The announcement was made by Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Brian Alldredge, PharmD. Their appointments take place between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Article originally posted on UCSF School of Medicine: Loic Yengo, PhD, Named UCSF Presidential Chair, Beginning in 2025