Titles
Professor of Neonatology and Genetics
Professor of Biological Sciences, Dentistry, and
Epidemiology in the College of Public Health
Education
BS – Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 1972
MD – Tufts University; 1978
Postgraduate Training
Residency – New England Medical Center Hospital
Medical Genetics Fellowship – University of Washington
NIH Fellowship Research – University of Washington
Clinical Interests
Complications of high-risk newborns, particularly as they relate to birth defects and premature infants
Research Interests
Research Interests
Advances in genetics, epidemiology, quantitative analysis and developmental biology have made it possible to identify genes involved in traits important in pediatric disorders. Our laboratory applies tools from a variety of disciplines, particularly those of genetics, genomics and epidemiology to study birth defects and prematurity. Our studies of premature birth are in collaboration with other members of the neonatology division, particularly John Dagle and also with collaborators in other neonatology divisions in the United States, Denmark, India, Lebanon, and South America. We are interested in identifying the genetic and environmental predisposing factors to prematurity and its complications. We are carrying out a wide range of clinical and laboratory based studies to investigate this.
Other projects include strategies to identify and characterize genes involved in several inherited human disorders with a major emphasis on cleft lip and palate. We have found several genes and gene/environment interactions that add to the burden of clefts using genome-wide association, deep sequencing, and developmental biology. Many of our studies are carried out using large populations and epidemiologic studies, particularly in the Philippines, Japan, Denmark and Brazil, and we work in close collaboration with investigators in these countries. We are also involved in studies of the prevention and better treatment of children with birth defects on several clinical trials.
Combining our molecular and developmental expertise with studies of epidemiology and environmental causes holds out the promise for developing a better understanding of pediatric disorders. We are also actively involved in the National Children’s Study, an effort to enroll 100,000 children as newborns and follow them until age 21 years. The goal is to examine genetic and environmental contributors to pediatric disease and we work with colleagues nationally as well as with Dr. Rizwan Shah and her team in Polk County, Iowa.
Graduate students, residents and postdoctoral fellows in my laboratory serve in leadership roles for these projects and have primary responsibility for project design and implementation. We are strongly committed to providing opportunities for students in the classroom, the clinic, the laboratory and in fieldwork to develop their interests and expertise in the application of genetic tools to an understanding of human disease and to clinical trials to improve outcomes.
Lab Members
- Brandon Alleman, MSTP Student
- Alul, Farah, Graduate Research Assistant
- Berends, Susan, Research Assistant
- Boghossian, Nansi, Graduate Research Assistant
- Brothers-Smith, Erin, Contracts Administrator
- Busch, Tamara, Research Assistant
- Butali, Azeez, Postdoctoral Fellow
- Davidson, Beth, Graduate Research Assistant
- Davin, Nancy, Research Administrator
- Durda, Kate, Genetic Counselor
- Ekhaguere, Osayame, Graduate Research Assistant
- Evans, Kari, Doris Duke Fellow
- Even, Dee, Research Assistant
- Hajj, Hanine, Pediatric Resident
- Kim, Jinsil, Graduate Research Assistant
- Kirmani, Sonya, Pediatric Resident
- Knosp, Laura, Research Assistant
- L'Heureux, Jamie, Program Consultant
- Leslie, Elizabeth, graduate research Assistant
- Leung-Heras, Jacqueline
- Mansilla, M. Adela, Research Assistant
- McConnell, Susie, Secretary
- Mueller, Kathryn, Predoctoral Student
- Petrin, Aline, Postdoc
- Petrin, Raul, Informatics Coordinator
- Rigdon, Jennifer, Research Coordinator
- Ryckman, Kelli, Postdoctoral Fellow
- Standley, Jennifer, Research Assistant
Affiliations
Recent Publications
Back to Department of Pediatrics |
Division of Neonatology
Division of Medical Genetics
Recent Publications
Contact Information:
Office: 319-335-6897
E-mail: jeff-murray@uiowa.edu |
