Human and Molecular Genetics - GradStudies

HMG researcher — Faculty of Medicine

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - GradStudies

Programs and Admission - GradStudies

Human and Molecular Genetics

The Human and Molecular Genetics (HMG) specialization at the University of Ottawa offers Master’s and PhD students in Canada advanced, research-driven training in the genetic and molecular basis of health and disease. This interdisciplinary specialization prepares graduates to drive innovation in biomedical research, biotechnology, and personalized medicine.

The Human and Molecular Genetics program is offered as a specialization addition for students enrolled in the programs of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, and Neuroscience.

Courses are currently offered primarily in English (though approval has been given for French versions of some courses).

The HMG Program provides specialization training at the MSc or PhD level using the harmonized procedures and policies of the parental graduate programs. The main impetus for the creation of the program was to enhance graduate student training in the area of human and molecular genetics and providing more advanced learning opportunities in related areas including:

disease gene identification and diagnosis,
expression profiling,
elucidation of cellular circuitry and molecular networks,
epigenetics,
bioinformatics,
and the genesis of personalized medicine.

Note: In order to be approved for the HMG specialization, your supervisor must be affiliated with the HMG program. For any professors interested in affiliation, please contact the specialization director.

List of HMG affiliated professors
Name of Professor	Areas of Specialization / Research Area
ADDISON, Christina (HMG Director)	Molecular genetics of cell invasion and microenvironment / Cancer, Angiogenesis, Metastasis
ARDOLINO, Michele	Molecular genetics of natural killer cells / Cancer immunology
BAETZ, Kristin	Yeast molecular genetics / Cell signaling Metabolism
BELL, John	Cancer molecular genetics / Oncolytic virus
BENNETT, Steffany	Molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease / Neuroregeneration / Lipid biochemistry
BLAIS, Alexandre Associate,	Transcriptional regulation / Myogenic differentiation
BOYCOTT, Kym	Genetics of rare diseases / Molecular pathogenesis
COOK, David	Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Genomics, Bioinformatics
DOWNEY, Michael	Regulation of protein acetylation / Cellular homeostasis
DOUGLAS, Gray	Molecular genetics of protein homeostasis / Cancer, Aging, Evolution
GAGE, Blair	Blood disorders / Vascular heart and metabolic disease / Gene therapy / Genetics / Genomics / Molecular and cellular biology / Gene therapy / Regenerative medicine / Stem cells
ILKOW, Carolina	Cancer molecular genetics, role of microenvironment Oncolytic viruses
KHACHO, Mireille	Mitochondrial genetics / Stem cells, aging
KOTHARY, Rashmi	Molecular basis of neurodegenerative disease /Spinal muscular atrophy
LIU, Xingquan (Johne)	Molecular regulation of oocyte maturation / Infertility
LORIMER, Ian	Molecular signaling systems / Glioblastoma
MATTAR, Pierre	Neuronal gene regulation / Neural progenitor cells
McPHERSON, Ruth	Molecular genetics of cardiovascular disease / Gene mapping
MEGENEY, Lynn	Molecular biology of apoptotic genes / Regulation of cell fate
PARKS, Robin	Molecular biology of adenoviruses / Gene therapy
PICKETTS, David	Gene regulation by chromatin remodeling / Brain development
ROUSSEAUX, Maxime	Regulation of protein localization / Neurodegenerative disease
RUDNICKI, Michael	Molecular regulation of stem cell biogenesis/ Myogenesis
SABOURIN, Luc	Molecular regulation by kinase signaling / Cancer, Muscular Dystrophy
STANFORD, Bill	Genetic regulatory networks / Cell fate decisions
STEWART, Alexandre	Molecular basis of cardiovascular disease Molecular pathways
THEBAUD, Bernard	Molecular genetics of lung development / Stems cells, gene therapy
TSILFIDIS, Catherine	Molecular genetics of retinal diseases Gene therapy
VANDERHYDEN, Barbara	Molecular genetics of ovarian cancer / Preclinical modeling
WANG, Jing	Molecular regulatory systems / Stem cell regulation

List last updated: July 23^rd 2025

Interdisciplinary Programs

Below is a list of programs that can add the specialization of Human and Molecular Genetics.