Congratulations to Dr. William R. Milligan, Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics, who received a Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) for his project titled “Reconciling Observations from Human Genetics and Phylogenetics: An Integrated Approach to the Study of Mutation.”
Genetic mutations play a critical role in evolution, inherited diseases, cancer, and aging. However, researchers are still working to understand the biological processes that cause mutations and why mutation rates differ across species, individuals, and tissues. This newly funded project aims to reconcile decades of conflicting research on CpG transitions, the most common type of single-nucleotide mutation, by investigating whether these mutations are driven by cell division or the passage of time.
Dr. Milligan's research combines genomic data analysis and mathematical modeling to investigate the factors influencing mutations in reproductive and non-reproductive cells. Dr. Milligan will conduct this newly funded project under the mentorship of Dr. Molly Przeworski, Alan H. Kempner Professor of Biological Sciences and Systems Biology at Columbia University.
