Loic Yengo

Professor Loic Yengo is a leading academic in statistical genomics at the University of Queensland (UQ), serving as Group Leader of the Statistical Genomics Laboratory within the Institute for Molecular Bioscience. He holds an ARC Future Fellowship and a Snow Medical Research Fellowship, focusing on advancing genomic medicine, particularly in understanding genetic variation's role in complex diseases like diabetes and heart disease. His work emphasizes diverse ancestry participation to improve equitable genomic applications.

Education

• PhD in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Université Lille 1 (2014)
• Postdoctoral training in Quantitative and Statistical Genetics at UQ (2016)

Research Interests

Yengo’s research integrates advanced statistical methods to analyze large genomic datasets, addressing topics such as non-random mating effects (inbreeding/assortative mating), polygenic risk prediction, and the genetic basis of complex traits. His lab develops tools like DINGO to enhance GWAS power and explores ethical implications of polygenic editing.

Key Contributions

His work has identified novel genetic variants linked to diseases, improved polygenic prediction accuracy, and highlighted the importance of family-based sampling in biobanks. Notable publications include foundational studies on height heritability and genomic medicine applications.

Awards & Grants

• 2024: Snow Medical Research Fellowship, American Society of Human Genetics Early Career Award
• 2022: Ruth Stephens Gani Medal (Australian Academy of Science)
• 2021: UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award
• Current grants: $7.5M+ for genomic diversity research and statistical methods

Labs & Teams

Leads the Statistical Genomics Lab within the Program in Complex Traits Genomics (PCTG), collaborating with Professors Jian Yang, Naomi Wray, and Peter Visscher. The lab focuses on translating genomic insights into personalized therapies and equitable healthcare solutions.