Our Vision
To advance equitable genomics research for the benefit of all.
- Activities:
- Sponsor, develop, and deliver workshops to train global scientists and the Penn community on topics relevant to global genomics research.
- Fund Keystone/Pilot Projects to build partnerships between Penn researchers across the campus and between Penn and global research institutions and to facilitate research focused on diseases that show health disparities.
- Facilitate a global research exchange with special emphasis on scientists from groups under-represented in the sciences
Our Mission
Promote health equity through genomics research, education, policy, and practice.
Our Goals
Facilitate integrative genomics research of under-represented populations in the US and across the globe through interdisciplinary collaborations, community partnerships, and education.
- Train the next generation of scholars.
- Expand genomics research in under-represented populations.
- Enhance recruitment of students, postdocs and faculty from groups under-represented in human genomics research.
Meet the Team
Sarah Tishkoff, PhD
Center Director | David and Lyn Silfen University ProfessorMy research centers on addressing the genomics research disparity in Africa. To that end, my team and African collaborators integrate field work, genomics research, and computational biology approaches to study human evolutionary history and the genetic basis of adaptive traits, disease risk, and resistance to infectious diseases in African populations.
Dorothy A. Hammond, PhD, MPH
Assistant Director | Sr. Research Investigator (Bioinformatics)I am a Bioinformatics Research Scientist with roots in public health (Epidemiology) and an interest in developing computational algorithms and disease risk predicting models applicable in populations under-represented in genomics research. I employ computational and statistical tools in Python (NumPy, SciPy, matplotlib, Plotly), Perl, R, Bioconductor, SAS, MATLAB, Cytoscape, Reactome, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), MetaCore Pathway Analysis, PLINK, BCFtools, SAMtools, and Bayesian statistics to better understand the genetic underpinnings of disease risk in these populations, generating insights to inform concepts as well as applications of disease risk model assessments in clinical decision making.
Getnet Yimer, MD, PhD
Assistant Director for Global Research | Sr. Research InvestigatorA physician scientist and clinical pharmacologist with extensive global experience. Studied genetic factors affecting drug response among Africa population focusing on genetic variants in drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. Worked with the academia, United Nations, Civil Society, and Industry at different leadership positions. Executed complex multi-country projects and have complementary passion and expertise in biomedical research ethics and global health.
Ameena Al-amin
Executive AssistantMy passion is community engagement fostering health awareness and strengthening cultural diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the globe. I have over 35 years of experiences working in healthcare and economic development within the City of Philadelphia supporting senior level faculty and executives. Worked at the Greater Philadelphia Economic Development Corporation, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, and currently at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. I attended Pierce College and the University of Pennsylvania where I majored in Business Administration. Throughout my 30+ years at UPenn, I have served on the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Community Advisory Board and the University of Pennsylvania’s Association of Business Administrators. I am a Lifetime Member of the National Council of Negro Women, Philadelphia Section.
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Members' Research Images
