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Wingo Laboratory

Focusing on understanding the genetic & molecular basis of brain illnesses

The Wingo Lab is a genetics and neuroscience laboratory at the University of California, Davis and Northern California Veterans Administration led by Aliza Wingo, M.D., M.Sc. and Thomas Wingo, M.D.

People

Our interests span several scientific and technical disciplines but are firmly focused on helping people lead healthier and happier lives. We welcome all participants, from students to seasoned researchers, regardless of race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Highlighted Publications

Recent Publications

Nature Genetics 2025

Multiancestry brain pQTL fine-mapping and integration with genome-wide association studies of 21 neurologic and psychiatric conditions

Aliza P Wingo, Yue Liu, Selina M Vattathil, Ekaterina S Gerasimov, Zhen Mei, Suda Parimala Ravindran, Jiaqi Liu, Ananth Shantaraman, Fatemeh Seifar, Erming Wang, Bin Zhang, Joseph Reddy, Mariet Allen, Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner, Philip L De Jager, Edward J Fox, Duc M Duong, Michael P Epstein, David J Cutler, Allan I Levey, David A Bennett, Nicholas T Seyfried, Thomas S Wingo

PubMed DOI

Projects

Shared molecular mechanisms between psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions

NIH

We investigate shared molecular contributors to brain conditions underlying psychological traits, psychiatric conditions, and neurodegenerative illnesses.

Molecular drivers of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's dementia

NIH R01 AG072120

Identifying molecular mechanisms of neuropsychiatric symptoms (depression, anxiety, apathy) in dementia to nominate therapeutic targets.

How psychological well-being and depression modify Alzheimer's risk

NIH R01 AG072120

Identifying genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic factors linking psychological well-being to dementia risk.

Identifying causal brain proteins in psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions

VA

Using large-scale GWAS and brain protein expression data to identify genes contributing to brain diseases.

Brain proteins contributing to PTSD and alcohol use disorder

VA I01 BX005686

Identifying brain proteins predisposing to PTSD and AUD in Veterans to illuminate novel pathophysiology and drug targets.

Molecular mechanisms of psychological well-being

VA I01 BX003853

Investigating brain protein expression underlying individual differences in psychological well-being.

Genetic and molecular causes of Alzheimer's Disease

NIH

Understanding the role of sex in AD pathogenesis and identifying new genetic associations.

Sex-specific differences in Alzheimer's disease

NIH R01 AG075827

Investigating why women are affected by AD about twice as much as men through multi-omic analyses.

Proteogenomic approach to AD GWAS results

NIH P50 AG025688

Exploring the role of brain protein expression as a potential cause for GWAS findings in AD.

New genetic causes of early-onset Alzheimer's disease

Using next-generation sequencing to identify new genetic causes in families with aggressive early-onset AD.

Genetic study of late-onset Alzheimer's Disease families

Identifying high-risk alleles in large families using linkage and sequencing techniques.

Press & Media

Open Positions

Open Position

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral candidates with interest in computational biology, genetics, proteomics, and neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative conditions are encouraged to apply by contacting sending a current CV to Aliza Wingo ([email protected]) and Thomas Wingo ([email protected])

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the many research volunteers, their families, and researchers who make our work possible. We are indebted to our excellent collaborators. And we thank the financial support provided by the Veterans Administration, National Institutes of Health, Emory University, The To Remember Foundation, American Psychiatric Association, and the Brain and Behavior Foundation (formerly NARSAD).

Contact

Lab Address

4500 2nd Ave, RM 3502
Sacramento, CA 95817

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Email [email protected]