The paper introduces LOCATER, a genealogy-based method that improves trait association power by leveraging haplotype diversity and allelic heterogeneity, identifying novel associations and recovering known loci in a Finnish cohort.

Genome Research · May 1, 2026Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Genome-wide association study of 1,391 plasma metabolites in 6,136 Finnish men identifies 303 novel signals and provides biological insights into human diseases

Xianyong Yin, Lap Sum Chan, Debraj Bose, Anne Jackson, Peter VandeHaar, Adam E. Locke, Christian Fuchsberger, Heather M. Stringham, Ryan Welch, Ketian Yu, Lilian Fernandes Silva, Susan K. Service, Daiwei Zhang, Emily C. Hector, Erica P. Young, , Michael Boehnke

This study identifies 303 novel genetic signals associated with plasma metabolites in Finnish men, revealing biological insights into disease mechanisms.

Nature Communications · Mar 28, 2022Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Mitochondrial genome copy number measured by DNA sequencing in human blood is strongly associated with metabolic traits via cell-type composition differences

Liron Ganel, Lei Chen, Ryan Christ, Jagadish Vangipurapu, Erica P. Young, Indraniel Das, Krishna Kanchi, David E. Larson, Allison Regier, Haley Abel, Chul Joo Kang, Alexandra J. Scott, Aki Samuli Havulinna, Charleston W. K. Chiang, Susan K. Service, , Ira M. Hall

Human Genomics · Jun 7, 2021Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Association of Structural Variation with Cardiometabolic Traits in Finns

Lei Chen, Haley Abel, Indraniel Das, David E. Larson, Liron Ganel, Krishna Kanchi, Allison Regier, Erica P. Young, Chul Joo Kang, Alexandra J. Scott, Colby Chiang, Xinxin Wang, Shuangjia Lu, Ryan Christ, Susan K. Service, , Ira M. Hall

This study identifies 31 genome-wide significant associations between structural variations and cardiometabolic traits in Finns, including two novel loci with strong phenotypic effects.

The American Journal of Human Genetics · Apr 1, 2021Peer-reviewedGenetics

SVEP1, a novel human coronary artery disease locus, promotes atherosclerosis

In‐Hyuk Jung, Jared S. Elenbaas, Arturo E. Alisio, Katherine Santana, Erica P. Young, Chul Joo Kang, Puja Kachroo, Kory J. Lavine, Babak Razani, Robert P. Mecham, Nathan O. Stitziel

This study identifies SVEP1 as a novel coronary artery disease locus that promotes atherosclerosis by affecting vascular smooth muscle cell function and signaling pathways.

Science Translational Medicine · Mar 24, 2021Peer-reviewedGenetics