Dianna Milewicz
Professor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
McGovern Medical School
Department of Internal Medicine - Medical Genetics
Research in the Milewicz lab is focused on genetically triggered vascular diseases, including thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, atherosclerosis, and moyamoya disease. For all these vascular diseases, premature death and disability due to these conditions can be prevented if individuals at risk are identified. These vascular diseases are often inherited in families, primarily in an autosomal dominant manner, with decreased penetrance and variable expression. The goal of the research program is to identify the genes with rare, highly penetrant variants that predispose individuals to these vascular diseases to prevent the associated morbidity and mortality, and to use the causative genes to identify molecular pathways triggering these vascular diseases to improve diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. The research in the Milewicz lab is divided into three interconnected components. The first component is involved in recruiting and characterizing families with multiple members with vascular diseases, with or without the causative genetic trigger identified.
These recruited study participants and families are used to identify novel genes and define the vascular disease phenotype associated with each gene so that gene-based management can be initiated and participants can be recruited for clinical trials. Furthermore, identifying the causative genes provides insights into the molecular basis of the disease. The second component identifies novel genes causing these vascular diseases, using genome sequencing data from the families recruited through the first component, biobank data, and established and novel computational analyses. Finally, the third component uses cell biology, animal models and multi-omics approaches to identify molecular pathways and specific cells linking the defective genes to the vascular diseases observed in patients.
The research team is highly collaborative and focused on improving outcomes and preventing premature deaths due to these vascular diseases. Our lab is composed of graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty scientists, physicians, genetic counselors and research associates. The extent of collaborations involves the members of the research team, affected patients and their families, patient advocacy groups and foundations, and scientists and clinicians from around the world.
McGovern Medical School Faculty
YouTube Video - Meet Dr. Milewicz
Education & Training
M.D./Ph.D. - The University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School - 1984