Steven Schrodi, PhD

Keywords: Age-related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Genome-Wide Mapping, Predictive Models

Education
B.S., 1995, Genetics, University of California, Davis
M.S., 1998, Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Ph.D., 2001, Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine

Research Summary
Steve Schrodi initially conducted research in the Theoretical Space Science Division at NASA Ames. He then received his PhD researching mathematical models in molecular evolution and population genetics from University of California, Irvine in 2001 under Richard Hudson and Walter Fitch. Following his graduate work, he worked as a Research Scientist under Ray White at DNA Sciences, then spent 9 years designing and analyzing large-scale disease gene mapping studies as well as developing new statistical genetics methods as a Senior Scientist, Staff Scientist, and a Senior Staff Scientist at the Celera Corporation. From 2010-2020, he was a Principal Investigator at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute where his lab researched complex disease genetics and statistical genetics. In 2020, he started as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Genetics within the Laboratory of Genetics at UW-Madison where his lab continues to focus on three areas: (1) human genetics of immunopathologies and metabolic dysfunction, (2) the development of new statistical methods to discover disease-predisposing genetic regions and create diagnostics, and (3) theoretical models of disease genetics.

Steve has been awarded 14 US patents, the Excellence in Research Award at NASA Ames Research Center, the Applera Demonstrated Noteworthy Achievement Award, and his work was named as one of the top 10 advances for 2004 by the Arthritis Foundation. His work in 1) rheumatoid arthritis led to the discovery of PTPN22 and TRAF1 as susceptibility genes, 2) psoriasis resulted in the discovery of IL23R missense variants and IL12B regulation, highlighting the role of TH17 signaling in chronic autoinflammation, and 3) hemochromatosis which revealed a new mechanism of iron metabolism (Fgf6-signaling that modulates hepcidin) using genetic mapping approaches. He has been a Faculty Trainer for the Computation and Informatics in Biology and Medicine program since 2013 and is currently a Member in the UW Comprehensive Diabetes Center, an Affiliate Member of the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, and the Center for Genomic Science Innovation. Steve is a Faculty trainer for the Genomic Sciences Training Program and a faculty member at the Quantitative Biology Initiative. He serves as the Statistical Genetics Section Editor for Genetics in Medicine, and as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Genetics. Steve has served on 14 grant review panels and early faculty career development advisory committees. His academic research has been supported by NIH-NCATS, Aviir, NHLBI, Metanomics Health, the Rheumatology Research Foundation, Second Genome, NIMH, and the Marshfield Clinic.

At UW-Madison, Steve teaches Human Genetics, Clinical Cases in Medical Genetics, and Quantitative Methods in Genetics.

Publications