Damian Labuda

Prof. Damian Labuda is a retired Full Professor at the University of Montreal's Department of Pediatrics and a researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center and the Robert-Cedergren Center for Bioinformatics and Genomics. He holds degrees from Adam Mickiewicz University (MSc 1971, PhD 1976, DSc 1982) and conducted postdoctoral research at the Max-Planck Institute in Germany. His work focuses on human genome diversity, genetic history of populations, and Quebec's demographic evolution. He has contributed to studies on X chromosome variability, genomic evolution mechanisms, and the genetic origins of Quebec's population. Notable awards include the Max-Planck Postdoctoral Fellowship and FRSQ senior research scholarships.

Research interests encompass analyzing genetic variability to understand human population origins, leveraging large-scale genotyping and coalescent models. His studies combine practical and computational approaches, addressing mutation mechanisms, demographic effects, and natural selection. He collaborates globally to explore genomic diversity's functional implications in disease and population history.

Key publications include analyses of Quebec founder populations, Southeast European genomic history, and molecular characterization of genetic disorders. His work bridges historical demography with modern genetic tools, emphasizing the interplay between population structure and disease susceptibility.