Duncan NRI Ryan Dhindsa M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine
Principal Investigator, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute
Faculty Member, Division of Genomic Medicine, Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital
Contact Information
Phone: 832-824-8633
Email: Ryan.dhindsa@bcm.edu
Research focus
To advance precision medicine by integrating human genomics and other omics, stem cell models, and computational biology.
Get to know Ryan Dhindsa M.D., Ph.D.
Research in the Dhindsa lab focuses on three primary areas:
(1) Population-level omics. We perform very large genetic sequencing studies to understand the genetic contribution to various human diseases. We have uncovered new genetic associations and therapeutic targets for several diseases, including epilepsy, diabetes, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and others. We also integrate other -omic modalities into our genomics studies, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, to gain insight into the pathophysiology of disease-associated variants. We are currently collaborating with several investigators at Texas Children’s Hospital to perform large multi-omic case-control studies for a range of diseases, including lupus, primary immunodeficiency, and others.
(2) Human stem cell models CRISPR-based functional genomics platform in human iPSC-derived neurons to identify convergent mechanisms in intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and epilepsy. We employ a variety of functional approaches, including single-cell RNA-sequencing, chromatin profiling, and electrophysiology assays.
(3) Computational biology & machine learning. We use population genetics and machine learning to improve the clinical interpretation of genetic variation and accelerate genetic discoveries. We are particularly interested in using machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify regions of the human genome most likely to be associated with disease when mutated.
NIH Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) (2022)
Miriam Berkman Spotnitz Award (2021)
Wang, Q.*, Dhindsa, R.S.*, Carss, K.*, Harper, A.R., Nag, A., Tachmazidou, I., Vitsios, D., Deevi, S.V.V., Mackay, A., Muthas, D., Huhn, M., Monkley, S., Olsson, H., Wasilewski, S., Smith, K.R., March, R., Platt, A., Haefliger, C., Petrovski, S. Rare variant contribution to human disease in 281,104 UK Biobank exomes. Nature. (2021). *Co-first author
Dhindsa, R.S., Mattsson, J., Nag, A., Wang, Q., Wain, L.V., Allen, R., Wigmore, E.M., Ibanez, K., Vitsios, D., Deevi, S.V., et al. Identification of a missense variant in SPDL1 associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Communications Biology 4 (1), 1-8. (2021).
Dhindsa, R.S., Zoghbi, A.W., Krizay, D.K., Vasavda, C., Goldstein, D.B. A transcriptome-based drug discovery paradigm for neurodevelopmental disorders. Annals of Neurology, 89 (2), 199-211. (2020).
Dhindsa, R.S., Bradrick, S.S., Yao, X., Heinzen, E.L., Petrovski, S., Krueger, B.J., Johnson, M.R., Frankel, W.N., Petrou, S., Boumil, R.M., et al. Epileptic encephalopathy-causing mutations in DNM1 impair synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Neurol Genet 1, e4. (2015).
Nag, A.*, Dhindsa, R.S.*, Harper, A.R., Vitsios, D., Ahnmark, A., Bilican, B., Madeyski-Bengtson K., Zarrouki, B., Wang, Q., Smith, K., Smith, D., Challis, B., Paul, D.S., Bohlooly-Y, M., Snowden M., Baker, D., Fristch-Danielson, R., Pangalos, M.N., Petrovski, S. Human genetic evidence supports MAP3K15 inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for diabetes. Science Advances. (2022). *Co-first author
Dhindsa, R.S., Copeland, B.R., Mustoe, A.M., and Goldstein, D.B. Natural Selection Shapes Codon Usage in the Human Genome. Am J Hum Genet 107 (1), 83-95. (2020).
Vitsios, D.*, Dhindsa, R.S.*, Mitchell, J., Matelska, D., Zou, Z., Armenia, J., Wang, Q., Sidders, B., Harper, A.R., Petrovski, S. Cancer-driving mutations are enriched in genic regions intolerant to germline variation. Science Advances. (2022). *Co-first author
View a complete list of publications by Ryan Dhindsa M.D., Ph.D.
