Christian Schaaf

Prof. Dr. med. Christian Schaaf is a University Professor (W3) for General Human Genetics and Medical Director/Managing Director of the Institute of Human Genetics at Heidelberg University Hospital. His career includes leadership roles at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, USA. He specializes in genetic disorders such as Schaaf-Yang syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and neurodevelopmental disorders. His research focuses on genomic newborn screening, genetic counseling, and translational medicine.

Education & Career:

• MD and PhD (summa cum laude) from Heidelberg University (1998–2005)
• Fellowships in Clinical Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine (2006–2010)
• Professorships at Baylor College of Medicine and Heidelberg University since 2013

Research Interests: Prof. Schaaf’s work centers on identifying genetic causes of rare disorders, developing diagnostic tools (e.g., GestaltMatcher database), and improving clinical care through genomic screening. He explores therapies for syndromes like Schaaf-Yang and investigates oxytocin pathways in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Awards:

• Wilhelm Vaillant-Preis (2018)
• Donald Seldin Award (2016)
• William K. Bowes Award (2013)

Grants & Collaborations: Leads interdisciplinary projects on genomic screening, cancer genetics, and rare disease registries. Collaborates with institutions like the German Network for Personalized Medicine and the European Autism GEnomics Registry (EAGER).

Labs/Teams: Oversees the AG Schaaf research group within the Institute of Human Genetics, focusing on molecular mechanisms of genetic disorders and clinical translation.