Michael Lee Boehnke is an American geneticist. He is the Richard G. Cornell Distinguished University Professor of Biostatistics at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

School of Public Health, where he also directs the Center for Statistical Genetics. His research focuses on the genetic dissection of

complex traits Complex traits, also known as quantitative traits, are traits that do not behave according to simple Mendelian inheritance laws. More specifically, their inheritance cannot be explained by the genetic segregation of a single gene. Such traits show ...

; in a career spanning 25 years, he has developed methods for analysis of human pedigrees, examined the history of breast cancer in genetically at risk individuals, and contributed important discoveries on the genetics of type 2 diabetes and related traits, such as obesity and blood lipid levels.

Early life

Boehnke completed his

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

degree in mathematics from the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...

before applying for a

Fulbright Scholarship The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people of ...

in Freiburg, Germany. Upon returning to North America, he volunteered in the lab of ecologists Bill Bradshaw and Chris Holzapfel who convinced him to apply for graduate school instead of law school. On their advice, he received his doctoral degree from the

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

in biomathematics.

Career

Upon concluding his education, Boehnke joined the faculty at the

School of Public Health in 1984. By 1993, he was promoted from associate professor with tenure to professor with tenure. In 2007, Boehnke collaborated with researchers at deCODE genetics and Mark McCarthy of the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

to identify seven new genes connected to type 2 diabetes. The groups identified at least four new genetic factors associated with increased risk of diabetes and confirmed the existence of six more. In recognition of the discovery, ''Science'' magazine named their discovery as the 2007 breakthrough of the year and ''Time'' magazine listed their work among the top 20 medical discoveries of 2007. He was subsequently appointed the Richard G. Cornell Distinguished University Professor of Biostatistics and elected a member of the

Institute of Medicine The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly called the Institute of Medicine (IoM) until 2015, is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Medicine is a part of the National Academies of Sciences, E ...

. After being elected to the

American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an American international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific respons ...

, Boehnke co-led an international research team which located 12 more regions on the genome with DNA variants that are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The following year, he discovered that several of the newly discovered genetic variants may increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or both. By 2013, Boehnke was a member of another international research team which uncovered 157 changes in human DNA that alter the levels of cholesterol and other blood fats.

Personal life

Boehnke and his wife Betsy Foxman have three sons together.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Boehnke, Michael Living people American geneticists University of Michigan faculty University of California, Los Angeles alumni Fellows of the American Statistical Association Members of the National Academy of Medicine Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science American biostatisticians Statistical geneticists Year of birth missing (living people)