Chun Li, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics Investigator, Center for Human Genetics Research

Contact Information

• E-mail: chun.li@vanderbilt.edu
• Phone: (615) 322-2884
• Address: 515D Light Hall, Nashville, TN 37232-0700
• Research interest:
  1. statistical genetics, genetic epidemiology
  2. statistical theory, statistical computing
  3. statistics education
  4. diabetes and its complications
• Curriculum Vitae

Teaching

IGP 304: Statistics for Biomedical Research (Spring 2006, Spring 2007)

Research

Genetics of diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults <75 years old in the United States. Within the first 20 years of diabetes duration, nearly all type 1 diabetics and >60% type 2 diabetics will develop diabetic retinopathy. With diabetes’ increasing prevalence and decreasing age of onset, the impact of diabetic retinopathy on blindness is growing. It is important to identify the risk factors for the onset and progression of diabetic retinopathy in order to develop targeted prevention and treatment.

Although the chance of developing retinopathy is high for people with diabetes, the progression and severity of retinopathy vary substantially. It is likely that genetic factors play an important role in determining the risk of retinopathy and its progression for patients with diabetes, and that the retinopathy-predisposing genes may be different for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Identification of these genes will help us understand the etiology of diabetic retinopathy, determine the risk population among diabetics, and develop targeted prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.

In collaboration with Dr. Anita Agarwal of the Department of Ophthalmology, I am conducting a study on the genetics of diabetic retinopathy. We are now ascertaining subjects and seeking additional funding for this study.

Statistical genetics

My current interests are:

• gene-gene interaction
• multi-marker association analysis
• Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium testing
• effective number of tests
• strategies and analyses for genome-wide association studies

Software

• GWAsimulator: A rapid whole genome simulation program
• GIST: Genotype-IBD Sharing Test
• TDT2locus: An R program for two-locus TDT analysis

Data for publications

• SNP chip coverage variation: Coverage maps of SNP chips and their coverage variation across the human genome and over known genes
• SNP chip cost efficiency: Comparison of cost efficiency of SNP chips

Collaborations

• Genetics in epidemiology
  1. Shanghai Breast Cancer Study (Drs. Wei Zheng, Qiuyin Cai): We are following up dozens of candidate genes for breast cancer susceptibility and progression. We also are applying for NIH funding for a genome-wide association study.
  2. Other projects (Drs. Chuck Matthews, Harvey Murff, Jay Fowke)
• Genetics of autism (Dr. Jim Sutcliffe): We are following up a few candidate genes for autism susceptibility.
• Clinical pharmacology (Drs. Mike Stein, Daniel Kurnik): We are studying the roles of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 in warfarin's metabolism and anticoagulation effect.
• Ophthalmology: I am a general biostatistician for the Department of Ophthalmology and the Vanderbilt Eye Institute. The projects are dynamic, some long and some short, some large and some small. Currently, I am working on various projects with Drs. Paul Sternberg, Jiyang Cai, Karen Joos, Denis O'Day, Rachel Kuchtey. (status report)
• Kennedy Center: I provide statistical genetics support to the investigators of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. Currently, I am working with Dr. Pat Levitt on MET and its relationship with other autism candidate genes. (status report)

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