Steven Munger, Ph.D., uses a systems genetics approach and advanced computational methods to study development and complex disease in advanced mouse populations.
The genetic origins of most developmental disorders and diseases are complex and remain poorly understood. Rather than a single deleterious mutation, genetic susceptibility to common diseases is conferred by many variants that individually assert subtle effects but in certain combinations perturb cellular networks sufficiently to bias them to a disordered/diseased state. Classic single-gene experimental approaches fail to elucidate these interactions, but new integrative genomic and genetic approaches from the emerging field of “Systems Genetics” hold considerable promise.
The Munger lab combines experimental and computational methods with advanced mouse mapping populations to solve these complex genetic puzzles.
We examine the natural genetic variation driving individual differences in 1) susceptibility to sex reversal during primary sex determination of the gonad, 2) disease severity in a mouse model of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, and 3) transcript and protein expression in the adult liver. We apply our genetic and genomics toolkit to predict causal variants and genetic interactions underlying phenotypic variability, validate these predictions at the bench with functional genomics methods, and ultimately seek to extend these results to inform patient diagnosis and treatment.
Chick JM*, Munger SC*, Simecek P, Huttlin EL, Choi KB, Gatti DM, Raghupathy N, Svenson KL, Churchill GA§, and Gygi SP§. Defining the consequences of genetic variation on a proteome-wide scale. Nature. 2016, In Press.
Munger SC, Natarajan A, Looger LL, Ohler U, Capel B. Fine time course expression analysis identifies cascades of activation and repression and maps a putative regulator of mammalian sex determination. PLoS Genet. 2013;9(7):e1003630.
Musser MA, Munger SC, Gunn TM. Meeting report of the 26th International Mammalian Genome Conference. Mamm Genome. 2013 Jun;24(5-6):179-89.
Munger SC, Raghupathy N, Choi K, Simons AK, Gatti DM, Hinerfeld DA, Svenson KL, Keller MP, Attie AD, Hibbs MA, Graber JH, Chesler EJ, Churchill GA. RNA-Seq alignment to individualized genomes improves transcript abundance estimates in multiparent populations. Genetics. 2014 Sep;198(1):59-73.
The Jackson Laboratory has appointed Steven Munger, Ph.D., to its research faculty as an assistant professor, after three...
I am investigating splicing-derived neo-antigens in breast and lung cancer using long-read RNA-sequencing in collaboration with the Palucka...
Assistant Professor Steve Munger’s long road to embracing research has led to a life of open-ended questions.
Conducting research to elucidate and compare the transcriptional network structure and dynamics driving organogenesis.
My research interest combines genetic diversity with human disease presentation, prevention, and treatment.
Develops and enhances the Gene Expression Database (GXD), which captures, integrates and displays mouse developmental expression data...
Research into lung development and role of miRNAs to better understand cancer, other lung diseases.
My research interest is high resolution mass spectrometry based data analysis and applications in 'omics' study.
In this episode, we'll consider methods to reduce bias in order to increase the translatability of your results to the...
This double sided laminated poster allows you to quickly and easily identify your mice by visual examination of the external...
This poster is a great resource for accurately aging mouse pups of various coat colors.
My research interest lie at the intersection of genetic diversity and environmental variability, with the goal of elucidating how GxE...
Multiplexed mass spectrometry paired with genetically varied mouse population yields broad insights.
The Maine High School Open House is open to any Maine high school student who has a strong interest in biomedical research...
The Maine High School Open House is open to any Maine high school student who has a strong interest in biomedical research...