معرفی
David G Peters is a Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh. He leads a research laboratory at the Magee-Womens Research Institute focused on developing non-invasive diagnostic methods using cell-free nucleic acids. Dr. Peters combines translational genomics with computational approaches to detect and phenotype silently progressing human diseases across multiple clinical domains including prenatal medicine, neonatal care, and women's health. His work aims to reduce disease burden through earlier and more accurate diagnosis that informs personalized treatment approaches.
Dr. Peters' research centers on understanding the biology and utility of cell-free nucleic acids present in human fluid reservoirs such as plasma, stool, and cerebrospinal fluid. His laboratory develops blood tests and other non-invasive methods for early detection of complex human diseases including preterm birth, necrotizing enterocolitis, ovarian cancer, and treatment-refractory depression. Key research areas include epigenomic liquid biopsy for preterm birth risk detection, non-invasive analysis of methylated cell-free DNA in neonatal diseases, and novel platforms for ovarian cancer diagnosis. His work consistently bridges basic science with clinical applications to create diagnostic tools with real-world impact.
Analysis of Dr. Peters' recent publications reveals a strong focus on methylation signature analysis across multiple clinical domains. His research spans prenatal medicine, neonatal care, women's health, and neuropsychiatry, demonstrating the versatility of cell-free nucleic acid analysis. A consistent theme is the development of high-resolution epigenomic techniques for non-invasive phenotyping, with applications ranging from stool-based detection of necrotizing enterocolitis to cerebrospinal fluid analysis for neurological conditions. His work on algorithm development for non-invasive prenatal testing has advanced the field beyond traditional aneuploidy screening to include microdeletion detection.
Dr. Peters currently leads multiple significant research projects funded by NIH, DOD, and private foundations. His active grants include development of non-invasive liquid biopsy screening for preterm birth (NIH/NICHD R01HD110579), analysis of methylated cell-free DNA in necrotizing enterocolitis (NIH/NIDDK R01 DK124614), and a novel platform for ovarian cancer diagnosis (DOD U01OC200494). Previous funding includes work on non-invasive detection of fetal aneuploidy (NIH/NICHD R01 HD068578-02) and metabolomics of treatment-refractory depression. In December 2024, he was featured in MWRI news about faculty receiving over $18 million in NIH grants.
Dr. Peters leads a research team at the Magee-Womens Research Institute including Annie Shaw (Senior Research Assistant), Camille Boufford (Senior Research Assistant), Tianjiao Chu (Associate Professor, OB/GYN), Lucas Tavares Naief (Senior Research Assistant), Michaela Ednie (Research Assistant), and Laken Ritzert (Research Assistant). His laboratory, located at 204 Craft Avenue, B405, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, combines wet lab genomic techniques with computational analysis to advance non-invasive diagnostic methods. The team collaborates with clinicians across multiple specialties to ensure their research addresses real clinical needs and can be translated into practical diagnostic tools that improve patient care while reducing risks associated with traditional diagnostic procedures.
