Research

The research program of the Gouveia Lab centers on understanding how genetic ancestry, beyond broad continental ancestry, influences disease risk and underlying biological mechanisms. We integrate population genetics theory, large-scale genomic data, and advanced statistical modeling to address questions at the intersection of human diversity and complex disease.

Core Research Projects:

Subcontinental ancestry inference at biobank scale
Ancestry-aware genome-wide association studies
Genetic architecture of complex diseases in diverse populations
Methodological innovation for admixed populations
Translation of ancestry-aware findings into precision medicine

Genetic Diversity

Human genetic diversity is structured at multiple levels, including substantial variation within continental populations. Ignoring subcontinental ancestry can lead to biased associations, reduced statistical power, and limited generalizability of genetic findings.

Our lab develops methods and analytical frameworks that:

Capture fine-scale population structure

Improve association mapping in admixed cohorts

Contribute to reducing health disparities in genomic research

We believe that embracing genetic diversity is not only scientifically necessary, but also ethically imperative for the future of human genomics.

Collaborations

The Gouveia Lab actively collaborates with national and international partners across academia, government, and large research consortia. We value interdisciplinary and cross-institutional collaborations that advance inclusive and globally representative genomics.

Current and past collaborations include researchers and institutions at:

Multiple institutes within Morehouse School of Medicine
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
All of Us Research Program (AoU)
Brazilian Ministry of Health (Genomas-SUS Initiative)
Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG)
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB)
Cleveland Clinic Reserach (CCR)
Emory University