Michael Boehnke

Michael Boehnke is the Richard G. Cornell Distinguished University Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He has been on the faculty since 1984 and directs the University of Michigan Center for Statistical Genetics and the Genome Science Training Program. His research focuses on statistical methods for human genetics, particularly in type 2 diabetes and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). He leads major consortia such as DIAGRAM and MAGIC, and has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles. He has trained 36 doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows, many of whom hold academic positions at major research institutions.

Education

• PhD in Biomathematics, University of California, Los Angeles (1983)
• BA in Mathematics, University of Oregon (1977)

Research

Boehnke develops statistical tools for analyzing genetic data and investigates genetic contributors to type 2 diabetes, lipid traits, and anthropometric measures. His work emphasizes collaborative consortia to aggregate large-scale genetic datasets. Recent projects include the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP) to integrate genomic data for metabolic disease research.

Publications

His most recent work addresses pleiotropy in genetic variants, sex-specific gene expression in skeletal muscle, and causal mechanisms of complex traits using multi-omics approaches. These studies highlight the utility of integrative genomics and population-scale data.

Awards

• Member, National Academy of Medicine
• Fellow, American Statistical Association
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Grants & Advising

He oversees NIH-funded projects (e.g., R01 HG009976, U01 DK062370) and has trained 24 doctoral students and 12 postdocs. His lab collaborates globally through initiatives like the Finland-United States Investigation of NIDDM (FUSION) study.

Labs & Teams

He leads the Center for Statistical Genetics, a hub for interdisciplinary research in computational genetics and statistical methodology.