Dr. Teri Ann Manolio is a distinguished physician-scientist who has pioneered the integration of genomic discoveries into population health research and clinical practice. As Director of the Division of Genomic Medicine at the National Human Genome Research Institute since 2012, she leads critical initiatives that translate genomic advances into medical applications. She earned her M.D. from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1980 followed by a Master of Health Science in Epidemiology and Ph.D. in Human Genetics from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Manolio previously served as Director of the Epidemiology and Biometry Program at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute from 1994 to 2005, establishing herself as a leader in population genomics research. Her academic appointments include Professor of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and an active clinical role at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Dr. Manolio's landmark 2006 publication 'Finding the missing heritability of complex diseases' has been accessed over 87,000 times and represents a foundational work in understanding the genetic architecture of common disorders. Her extensive research portfolio, comprising more than 423 peer-reviewed articles with over 76,000 citations, has fundamentally shaped how scientists approach genomic applications in population health. She has spearheaded major national initiatives including the Population Architecture for Genomics and Epidemiology Network, the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network, and the Implementing Genomics in Practice Network, creating infrastructure that has accelerated genomic medicine implementation across healthcare systems. Her investigations into ethnic disparities in disease risk have provided critical insights into how genetic factors interact with social determinants of health across diverse populations.
Beyond her research contributions, Dr. Manolio has been instrumental in shaping national policy and research priorities for genomic medicine through her leadership roles at the National Institutes of Health. She maintains active clinical involvement at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, ensuring her research remains grounded in real-world patient care needs. Her mentorship has cultivated a generation of scientists dedicated to advancing precision health initiatives across multiple institutions. Recognized with the prestigious 2021 Presidential Rank Award, the highest honor for federal employees, Dr. Manolio continues to lead efforts in developing genomic resources that democratize access to genetic data. Her current work focuses on overcoming implementation barriers to bring genomic medicine to diverse patient populations, setting the stage for more equitable healthcare outcomes through personalized genomic approaches.
