Olaf Bodamer

Dr. Olaf Bodamer is Associate Chief for Genetics and Genomics at Boston Children's Hospital and faculty at Harvard Medical School. He leads a translational research laboratory focused on rare genetic disorders, including Kabuki syndrome and lysosomal storage diseases. He directs the Boston Children’s Lysosomal Storage Disease (BoLD) Program and the Roya Kabuki Program.

• MD, University of Heidelberg, Germany (1989)
• PhD, University of Saarland, Germany
• Pediatric Residency, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London
• Fellowship in Clinical and Biochemical Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, USA

Dr. Bodamer's research integrates systems biology and multi-omics to understand disease mechanisms and improve diagnostics. His work spans newborn screening, exome sequencing, metabolomics, and animal models. He focuses on phenotype expansion, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic development for rare diseases, particularly those affecting neurodevelopment and metabolism.

His recent publications highlight trends in precision medicine, undiagnosed diseases, and genotype-phenotype correlations in Kabuki and lysosomal disorders. He has contributed significantly to clinical guidelines and diagnostic protocols for rare metabolic conditions.

• Member, Editorial Board: Molecular Genetics and Metabolism
• Scientific Advisor: All Things Kabuki, OAA
• Director, Medical Genetics Laboratories (former, University of Miami)

Dr. Bodamer mentors junior researchers and collaborates across clinical specialties. His work is supported by institutional and collaborative grants, focusing on translational applications in pediatric genetics. He has played a key role in establishing rapid diagnostic pipelines for critically ill neonates and advancing newborn screening for lysosomal disorders.

He leads research teams in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and the Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in rare disease research.