Michigan Genomics Initiative

The Michigan Genomics Initiative (MGI) is a collaborative research effort among physicians, researchers, and patients at Michigan Medicine.

The MGI Community is an integral part of the MGI Initiative. Our community brings together like-minded researchers, interested in exploring the use of genetic data to improve health.

diverse group of people putting hands in a circle

The MGI Genetic Data Community

Our growing community is open to all investigators interested in using genetic data to support their research.

The MGI Community at brings together U-M researchers from across the university who are interested in using genetic data to gain novel biomedical insights. We support each other in our endeavors and have a passion for unleasing the power of genetic research.

For more information, contact:
Sebastian Zoellner, PhD
Professor, Biostatistics Department
Professor, Psychiatry Department
Co-Director, AI & Digital Health Innovations

“The MGI Community is a great place to interact with U - M researchers who are interested in leveraging genetic data to advance digital health research. There is a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and a strong sense of community within the MGI Community – it’s really helped me as I think about my genetic research.”

Xiang Zhou, PhD
Professor, Biostatistics

MGI Data

The MGI data repository combines patient electronic health record (EHR) data with corresponding genetic data from over 100,000 participants. This data is available to all UM researchers, empowering researchers to lead groundbreaking research that requires cutting-edge biomedical insights.

We are currently developing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). This advancement will provide a detailed and comprehensive map of an individual's genetic makeup, capturing all variations, including those in non-coding regions.  This enriched portion of genetic information can drive forward precision medicine, advance scientific knowledge, and ultimately enhance patient care and health outcomes.

The data collected and stored by MGI is available to University of Michigan researchers who have received approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB).  If you are a researcher interested in using the MGI database, simply click the "Request MGI Data" button below to get started.

MGI Policies And Agreements

Access, Use, and Distribution of MGI Data 

This policy establishes a framework for appropriate access to samples from and re-contacting research participants.

Establishing a Michigan Genomics Partnership

This policy outlines the ways investigators may collaborate with AI & Digital Health Innovation to contribute to MGI and/or leverating our genomic resources.

“Through MGI I have access to a large cohort of Michigan Medicine patients with linkable treatment outcomes data and genome-wide genetics, and the ability to identify patients carrying particular genotypes to enroll in prospective studies. Everyone affiliated with University of Michigan with an interest in genetics should consider how they can leverage the unique MGI resources to conduct their research.”

Dan Hertz, PharmD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pharmacy

Visual story on how new data is added to the MGI dataset

Expanding The Dataset

We are constantly adding to and diversifying our genomics data. Prospective participants are enrolled via a mobile application one of two ways: by clinical researchers after they have been admitted to the hospital for treatment or via recruiters who enroll participants outside the hospital. MGI participants provide a saliva or blood biospecimen and approve the study team to access their EHR data to match their health records with their DNA.

Biospecimens collected from participants are sent to UofM’s Central Biorepository for processing, and DNA is isolated from the biospecimens. The data is stored and made accessible through our MGI database.

For more information, contact:
Janet Houghtby, Team Lead, MGI Data Collection

Featured MGI Enrollment Studies

Our MGI Data Collection Team works closely with researchers across the University of Michigan to expand and diversify our genetics data. See the following enrollment studies that have helped us add to our growing MGI database.

Additional MGI Enrollment Studies

Study NamePrincipal InvestigatorSchool/College
Michigan Predictive Activity & Clinical Trajectories (MiPACT)Sachin Kheterpal, MD, MBAMichigan Medicine
Mental Health BioBank (MHB2)Vicki Ellingrod, PharmD; Srijan Sen, MD, PhDSchool of Public Health / Medical School
Personalized Medicine through Integration of Immune Phenotypes in Autoimmune Skin Disease (PerMIPA)Michelle Kahlenberg, MD, PhDMichigan Medicine
ImPrec: Immune Precision in Solid Organ Transplantation (ImPrec)Daniel Goldstein, MDMichigan Medicine
Metabolism, Endocrinology & Diabetes (MEND)Charles Burant, MD, PhDSchool of Public Health
Biobank to Illuminate the Genomic Basis of pediatRic Disease (BIGBiRD)Karl Desch, MDMichigan Medicine
General MGI Participant CollectionChad Brummett, MDMichigan Medicine
Michigan and You - Partnering to Advance Research Together (MY PART)Brahmajee Nallamothu, MDMichigan Medicine
Providing Mental Health Precision Treatment (PROMPT)Amy Bohnert, PhD, MHSMichigan Medicine
MIchigan Neurological Disorders PRecision health Objective (MIND PRO)Peter Todd, MD, PhDMichigan Medicine
Michigan eArly disease Progression cohort in COPD (MAP-COPD)Meilan Han, MD, MSMichigan Medicine
Dysplasia-Associated Arterial Disease Precision Health Network (DAAD)Santhi Ganesh, MDMichigan Medicine
Uveitis/Intraocular Inflammatory Disease BiobankShilpa Kodati, MBBSMichigan Medicine
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) BiobankVincent Chen, MDMichigan Medicine
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) BiobankPeter Higgins, MD, PhDMichigan Medicine