Lisa Strug

Dr. Lisa Strug is a Professor in the Departments of Statistical Sciences, Computer Science, and Biostatistics at the University of Toronto. She holds cross-appointments in multiple departments and serves as a Senior Scientist in the Program in Genetics and Genome Biology at The Hospital for Sick Children. Her leadership roles include Director of the Data Sciences Institute (DSI), a tri-campus hub for data science, and Director of CANSSI Ontario. She specializes in statistical genetics and develops novel methodologies for analyzing multi-omics data to understand complex diseases like cystic fibrosis and epilepsy.

Dr. Strug's research focuses on identifying genetic modifiers in Mendelian diseases and neurodevelopmental correlates of epilepsy. She leads international consortia such as the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Gene Modifier Consortium and the Biology of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy International Consortium. Her work emphasizes translating genetic findings into clinical tools for early intervention and precision medicine.

Her scientific achievements include the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Genome Data Science. She has contributed to large-scale genomic studies like the GENCOV cohort, examining host genetics in COVID-19 severity and population-based genomic screening. Her lab integrates computational methods with experimental biology to address challenges in genetic disease analysis and data integration.

Administratively, Dr. Strug oversees initiatives that bridge statistical sciences, data science infrastructure, and genomic medicine. She collaborates across disciplines to advance both fundamental research and clinical applications in pediatric genetics and population health.