About the Lab
The Gouveia Lab is a bioinformatics research group based at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) within the Department of Public Health Education, with affiliations to the Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine and the Cardiovascular Research Institute. The lab focuses on an integrative approach that brings together population genetics, genetic epidemiology, and ancestry-aware genomics.
The mission of the Gouveia Lab aligns with MSM’s institutional mission and its global leadership in advancing health equity. We develop rigorous computational and statistical frameworks to capture human genetic diversity at high resolution and translate these insights into a deeper understanding of complex diseases and more equitable precision medicine
We place a strong emphasis on:
-
Subcontinental and local ancestry inference
-
Ancestry-aware genome-wide association studies
-
Facilitating admixture mapping
-
Discovery of common and ancestry-enriched genetic associations
-
Generation of accurate polygenic risk scores
-
Training the next generation of multi-disciplinary scientists
Current Team
Mateus H. Gouveia, PhD
Assistant Professor of Genetics (PI)
Dr. Gouveia is a population geneticist and genetic epidemiologist whose research examines how fine-scale ancestry and evolutionary history shape the genetic architecture of complex diseases. He has extensive experience leading genome-wide studies in multi-ancestry populations, including admixed Latin American populations, African Americans, and continental African cohorts.
Thais Tavares, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Tavares is a postdoctoral researcher with a background in molecular biology and bioinformatics. Her work lies at the intersection of population genomics and precision medicine, focusing on how genetic variation, ancestry, and evolutionary history shape disease risk in diverse and admixed populations, particularly those that have been historically underrepresented.
Victoria E. Brown
Master’s Candidate
Victoria E. Brown is a Master of Public Health candidate at Morehouse School of Medicine and a population genetics trainee with interests in approaching genetic, neurological, and oncology-related research through a health-equity lens. Her work focuses on understanding how genetic ancestry, social determinants of health, and structural inequities can shape disease risk, progression, and outcomes in historically underrepresented populations.
Support for the Gouveia Lab enables research advancing precision medicine, health equity, global health, and the training of future multidisciplinary scientists. Funders interested in supporting the Gouveia Lab are invited to contact the Grants and Contracts Office at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Support Us
