Serena Sanna

My research studies have for long focused on studying the genetics of quantitative traits and complex diseases. Genetic studies are nowadays extremely powerful with the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies. By coupling cutting-edge technologies and methods with a special population, the Sardinians, I have identified key molecular mechanisms underlying hundreds of complex traits. Using the extraordinary phenotype and molecular characterization of the Lifelines cohort, I have contribute to better understand the complexity of diseases by incorporating non-genetic components from –omics experiments, and identified the sources of variability in symptoms and expressivity of Mendelian diseases. I am now taking my expertise in both genetics and omics data to deeply study biological mechanisms that confer different incidence and presentation of complex diseases between men and women. Further understanding of such mechanisms is the route toward the future development of a personalized medicine.