Jason D Heaney

Jason D Heaney, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. He serves as Director of the Center for Precision Medicine Models and Academic Director of the Genetically Engineered Rodent Models (GERM) Core, while co-leading the Advanced In Vivo Cancer Models Shared Resource at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on germ cell development, infertility, cancer mechanisms, mammalian genetics, mouse models of human diseases, and genome editing technologies.

• BS, University of New Hampshire (1998)
• PhD, Pennsylvania State University (2004)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, Case Western Reserve University (2010)

Heaney's work integrates mouse genetics, genomics, and CRISPR/Cas9 to explore gene functions in human disease. Key projects include:

• Characterizing testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) mechanisms through pluripotency regulation and developmental switches
• Functionalizing novel infertility genes identified via the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC)
• Validating gene-disease relationships for Mendelian disorders
• Developing precision mouse models for undiagnosed conditions
• Testing genome editing delivery systems

His research leverages single-cell RNA sequencing, mouse mutagenesis, and high-throughput phenotyping, with recent publications on AAV vector targeting, gene variant analysis, and skeletal/cardiac model standardization.

Heaney's lab contributes to large-scale initiatives like the NIH's Somatic Cell Genome Editing program and the IMPC. The Center for Precision Medicine Models under his leadership develops fly and mouse models for rare diseases and preclinical therapeutic testing.