Project PI Matt Mahoney graduated off the CQB COBRE February 2022, after receiving an R01 grant for his project, “Integrating high-throughput histology with systems genetics through causal graphical models.” Dr. Mahoney credits the CQB with providing the essential support needed to build his team and carry out his research. During his three years with the CQB, his group developed computational tools to integrate genetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and histopathology data, with a goal of resolving the complex chains of causality from a gene variant through molecular networks to tissue structure and, ultimately, clinical outcomes. Guidance from COBRE mentors was instrumental to his success.
Project Leader
Dr. Mahoney’s work aims to address the complexity of disease using computational tools and systems genetics. Since his graduate training in pure mathematics, he has collaborated widely with researchers in many fields, including epilepsy, autism, systemic sclerosis, and aging. He has worked extensively with high-throughput molecular data, such as gene expression microarrays and RNA sequencing, and electrophysiological data in rodents and humans.
The major theme running through all of this work is the use of complex network theory and machine learning to understand disease mechanisms. Dr. Mahoney recently was awarded an R21 as co-principal investigator with his collaborator Dr. Anna Tyler at The Jackson Laboratory to use machine learning to predict causal genes genomic loci from mapping studies.