The Munger Lab
Steven Munger, Ph.D., uses a systems genetics approach and advanced computational methods to study development and complex disease in advanced mouse populations.
Principal Investigator
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Research Focus
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.
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Media ReleaseOctober 29, 2024JAX researchers unveil method to map immune cell connections, predicting patient survival in cancer
Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory have developed a new combination of imaging and computational methods to study connections between immune cells in breast cancer and melanoma -
ArticleOctober 08, 2024Cancer research trainees advance their skills at JAX with support from the American Cancer Society
Earlier this year, The Jackson Laboratory’s NCI-designated Basic Research Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society (ACS) teamed up to have ACS-funded trainees attend advanced cancer courses at JAX, aiming to deepen their understanding of cutting-edge cancer research techniques through experiential learning. -
ArticleAugust 14, 2024JAX researchers call for genetically diverse models to drive innovation in drug discovery
Diverse mouse models show promise in how we understand and treat diseases, offering a significant improvement over standardized but limited mouse and cellular models. -
Featured ArticleJuly 09, 2024Bringing critical perspectives to genomic medicine research
Leading with compassion, Elizabeth Charnysh represents a team of genetic counselors established seven years ago as part of a comprehensive strategy to study the impact of genomic medicine research on human health.
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Media ReleaseOctober 09, 2024Study probes how eating less can extend lifespan
Researchers at The Jackson Laboratory conduct pivotal study into aging and lifespan to uncover new details about how diets might make people live longer — but also their negative side effects -
ArticleAugust 14, 2024From mice to medicine - six questions with Nadia Rosenthal
How working with genetically diverse could revolutionize our understanding of human disease and treatment. -
Research HighlightJuly 10, 2024Charles Lee continues to sequence repetitive areas of the genome
Charles Lee co-leads the Human Genome Structural Variation Consortium and is uncovering structural variations in the human genome. -
Featured ArticleJuly 09, 2024What is genetic biomarker testing?
Genetic testing is a powerful tool in the fight against cancer, playing a crucial role in both prevention and personalized treatment. But what exactly are the different types of genetic tests, and how do they help?