Decoding Disease Risk and Ancestry

UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor Alexander Ioannidis is leading groundbreaking research that links human genetics to health outcomes and ancestral origins. His work centers on genome variation across populations to understand the basis for differences in disease risk and drug response. By designing advanced computational models, his team creates personalized predictions of phenotypes, such as disease susceptibility, directly from DNA sequences. These models also help reveal each person’s ancestral history, tracing population sizes, migrations, and the effects of natural selection.

“Improved prediction algorithms from your genome could lead to targeted precision medicine from personalized drug dosage to periodic diagnostic testing geared to the particular risks of each patient (e.g., breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease).” Ioannidis’s goal is to make genome-informed care a reality by using large-scale patient datasets to build tools that can translate genetic data into accurate health predictions. “We hope to use increasingly large patient genome datasets to create prediction algorithms accurate enough to make your genome an essential part of your medical record.”

DNA Evidence Unlocks Rapa Nui’s Origins

Ioannidis’s commitment to inclusive genomic research was also featured in PBS NOVA’s “Easter Island Origins”, which highlights his efforts to uncover the genetic history of the Rapa Nui people. Working with community elders and volunteers, Ioannidis and an international team collected DNA samples from 807 participants across 17 island populations and 15 Native American groups.

Their genome-wide analysis revealed traces of Native American ancestry among the Rapa Nui — evidence supporting early contact between Polynesian voyagers and South American groups around 1200 AD. Some DNA segments were found to be most similar to those of the Zenú people of Colombia, suggesting a historic trans-Pacific connection that had long been part of the oral tradition but had never been proven by science.

“What I really love about genetics is that it is essentially about participation with the people whose story you are telling. It is their sample that is telling the story.”

Today, Ioannidis continues expanding this research with UC Santa Cruz students, focusing on the genetics of diverse and underrepresented populations to help make personalized medicine accessible to all.

Connect at the UCSC Genomics Rooftop Mixer

Ioannidis will share more about his work at the Santa Cruz Works Genomics Mixer on Tuesday, October 28, from 4–7 p.m. at Anton Pacific Rooftop (800 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz).

The event will bring together UCSC researchers, biotech leaders, and investors for an evening of lightning talks and networking. Guests can explore table demonstrations highlighting projects from Karen Miga, Benedict Paten, Carol Greider, Sofie Salama, David Haussler, and others, driving breakthroughs in genomics.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the brightest minds in precision medicine and witness how UCSC scientists are shaping the future of health and human understanding.

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