University of Miami · GeneticsPericak-Vance Genetics Lab
Margaret A. Pericak-Vance · Coral Gables, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Margaret A. Pericak-Vance leads a research lab focused on understanding the genetic causes of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in African American and Hispanic populations. The lab aims to include diverse groups in genetic studies to uncover patterns of risk associated with Alzheimer’s that have been overlooked in current research, which predominantly includes people of European ancestry. By enhancing representation in this field, the lab hopes to contribute to better prevention and treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease through precision medicine.
Alzheimer's Diseasegenetic diversityAfrican ancestryHispanic populationsgenetic etiologycommunity-sensitive recruitmentrisk factorswhole-genome sequencingdementiaprecision medicine
Research Aims
5AIM 01Recruit individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to study Alzheimer’s disease genetics.
AIM 02Characterize genetic risk factors of Alzheimer’s in African American and Hispanic populations.
AIM 03Identify new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease through genetic analysis.
AIM 04Understand the impact of genetic ancestry on Alzheimer's risk factors.
AIM 05Develop community-sensitive approaches to enhance study participation in underrepresented groups.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRgenotypingwhole-genome sequencingbiobankingdata harmonizationclinical assessmentsbioinformaticscommunity engagementgenomic data analysisstatistical genetics
Output against the department
Publications921top 5% of dept.13th of 259
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations81ktop 7% of dept.18th of 259
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.