Translational Medicine
Open Access

Ali Torkamani

Biography

Ali Torkamani, Ph.D, who is an Assistant Professor and Director of Drug Discovery at STSI & Assistant Professor of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at TSRI, is a leader in the scientific field of quantitative genetics and genomics. By analyzing genetic and genomic data of many types in a systems biology framework, he hopes to advance scientific understanding about the genetic mechanisms of human diseases. Believing that complex human disease mechanisms can be fully understood only in the context of the whole biological system, Ali conducts studies that integrate mutation, gene expression and epigenetic data. Applying computational techniques to detect mutations that contribute to cancer initiation and pathogenesis is among his research interests. In addition to quantitative analysis of genetic data, he produces computational tools for generation, analysis and interpretation of genomic data; including specialized target capture, gene expression and sequence analysis methodologies. As a reflection of his productivity, he has authored numerous publications reflecting a variety of computational techniques. He was awarded the B.S. degree in chemistry at Stanford University and the Ph.D. degree in biomedical sciences at UC San Diego. Prior to his promotion to the Assistant Faculty position at STSI, he was a research scientist and Dickinson Fellow at the institute during 2008 to 2009. In addition to conducting research, Ali lectures in STSI’s clinical trial design graduate course in the Master’s Degree in Clinical & Translational Investigation and the Training Program in Translational Research for Advanced Doctoral Students programs.

Research Interest

Mutation, gene expression and epigenetic data and applying computational techniques to detect mutations that contribute to cancer initiation and pathogenesis is among his research interests.