Steven J Lubbe

My research is primarily focused on using a vast array of bioinformatic and computational approaches (including machine learning) to analyse large-scale –omics data to further our understanding of the genomics of Parkinson's disease, dystonia and other movement disorders. By integrating genetic data (whole genome/exome, GWAS and/or rare variant genotype data) with brain expression, regulatory data etc. the main aim of my lab is to identify novel variants and/or genes associated with disease causality or disease susceptibility. My lab has a very close working relationship with the Movement Disorders Clinic, the Neurogenetics Clinic and the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center Biorepository at Northwestern Medicine where we work together with clinicians, patients and their families to investigate the genetics of disease segregating in families seen at the clinics through the assessment of whole genome/exome data. This close connection with the clinic allows my lab to identify potential genetic modifiers of disease onset, disease progression etc. through the analysis of detailed clinical/phenotypic data that is linked to genetic data. Another interest of my lab is investigating the shared genetic background between Parkinson's disease and cutaneous malignant melanoma that has been proposed by numerous epidemiological studies. Using the same approach mentioned above, we aim to identify genes/variants that influence the etiology of both diseases in carriers. A secondary aim of this approach will be to assess the role that skin and neuro-pigmentation has in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. Candidate variants/genes will be investigated functionally to elucidate their direct role in disease etiology.