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Haplotype-based inference of hidden structure in the human genome

Objective

The rapid emergence of high-throughput genomic technologies—such as low-coverage sequencing (LCS), ancient DNA (aDNA), and long-read sequencing (LRS)—offers unprecedented opportunities to explore human evolutionary history and advance medical genetics. However, the full potential of these data remains underexploited due to analytical and methodological limitations: for example, low coverage aDNA (<0.5x) is typically excluded ancestral recombination graph (ARG) analyses, while low structural variant (SV) genotyping accuracy and the lack of reliable imputation panels limit population-scale association studies.

This project proposes the development of two innovative haplotype-based statistical methods to overcome these barriers and unlock novel biological insights. First, I will establish a unified framework that integrates ARG construction with genotype imputation, enabling robust large-scale genealogical and demographic analyses of both modern and ancient low-coverage genomes. Second, I will develop a probabilistic haplotype-based approach for structural variant (SV) genotyping and imputation with long-read sequencing data, applying it to large population cohorts. These methods will be validated on cutting-edge resources, including the UK Biobank and the Allen Ancient DNA Resource, and disseminated through open-source software.

By bridging methodological gaps in aDNA and SV analyses, this project will deliver tools for demography inference using ARGs, SV-informed trait mapping, and the integration of diverse genomic data in population and medical genomics. The first application of the tools will have profound impacts. The unlocked high-resolution human history will contribute to public discourse on the definition and biomedical use of genetic ancestry. Discoveries of disease-associated SVs and underlying biological mechanisms will inform drug development, personalized treatment, and supporting industrial innovation.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF

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Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 276 187,92
Address
WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom

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Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

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