David Evans

Professor David Evans is a Group Leader and Director of the Centre for Population and Disease Genomics at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland. His research focuses on dissecting genetic and environmental influences on complex traits like osteoporosis, sepsis, and handedness using advanced statistical genetics methods. He leads international consortia such as EGG and GEFOS, and collaborates with global cohorts including the UK Biobank and Norwegian MOBA/HUNT studies. Key projects include large-scale GWAS analyses and Mendelian randomization studies to investigate causal relationships in genetic epidemiology.

Evans’ group develops statistical tools like DINGO software for genetic analysis and LDHub for estimating genetic correlations. They have discovered 41 genetic loci associated with left-handedness and pioneered studies linking developmental origins (DOHaD) with adult health outcomes. His team includes 8 current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, supported by extensive collaborations with institutions like University of Bristol and McGill University.

Research interests span intergenerational effects of maternal traits, skeletal biology, and sepsis genetics. Notable achievements include leading one of the world’s largest sepsis molecular studies and contributing to drug target identification for osteoporosis through zebrafish models. Evans’ work bridges statistical innovation with clinical relevance, addressing public health challenges via genomic data integration.