Recap: The 2025 Michigan Genomics Initiative (MGI) Symposium
Researchers, faculty, and students from across U-M convened around genomics and genetics.
ANN ARBOR, MI – On September 19, 2025, nearly 100 members of the University of Michigan research community gathered for the annual Michigan Genomics Initiative (MGI) Symposium. Hosted by AI & Digital Health Innovation (AI&DHI), this event provided the opportunity for U-M researchers, faculty members and students who share an interest in genomics and genetics to convene and learn from each other.
Dr. Sebastian Zoellner, John G. Searle Associate Professor of Biostatistics at the U-M School of Public Health, Professor of Psychiatry at the U-M Medical School, and a Co-Director of AI&DHI, orchestrated the symposium together with the MGI team.
The keynote speaker for this year’s event was Dr. Eimear Kenny, Director, Institute for Genomic Health at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, who presented on Population Genetics in an Era of Genomic Health. In addition to her presentation, the audience heard from MGI Community members who are utilizing genomic data. The speakers represented multiple schools and colleges from across the U-M community, including Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health, and more. The researchers selected to present at the 2025 symposium were as follows:
Vincent Chen, MD, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School
Tony Scott, MD, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School
Sofia Merajver, MD, PhD, GreaterGood Breast Cancer Research Professor, Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School and Professor of Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Ford Hannum, PhD, Bioinfo-Comput Biologist Intermediate
Graham Brady, MD, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical School
Matt Zawistowski, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of Biostatistics, School of Public Health
Jonathon LeFaive, App Sys Analyst/Programmer Ld
Wendy Uhlmann, MS, LCGC, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Human Genetics, U-M Medical School
Amy Pasternak, PharmD, BCSP, Clinical Pharmacist and Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy
AI&DHI is hoping to grow the MGI Member Community in the coming years. In addition to cultivating new membership benefits for faculty and researchers who are part of this community, AI&DHI plans to hold a new event for those with interest in genomics and genetics in Spring 2026.
About AI & Digital Health Innovation
AI & Digital Health Innovation (formerly Precision Health at U-M) is dedicated to empowering researchers at the University Michigan to change the future of digital healthcare. They work with multi-disciplinary teams of health providers, basic scientists, engineers, and administrators to tackle the most difficult research problems and help rapidly bring ideas to the bedside. For more information visit aidhi.umich.edu.
About the Michigan Genomics Initiative (MGI)
The Michigan Genomics Initiative brings together like-minded researchers interested in exploring the use of genetic data to improve health. MGI is a community built around shared data and shared resources with a focus on lowering the barriers of entry and allowing a wide range of researchers and clinicians to become involved in genetics research, enabling the adoption of genetics understanding in clinical practice. For more information visit https://aidhi.umich.edu/communities