Vision

The Kowalec lab is a multi-disciplinary research program at the University of Manitoba, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, which combines genomics, biostatistics, and epidemiology, to advance the outcomes of those affected by neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our work regularly involves an extensive network of Canadian, American, Swedish, and other International collaborators.
​
Our group is located in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, at the University of Manitoba, where we contribute to the creation of a data science hub. We are a "dry-lab" focussed on computation and analysis, but collaborate with "wet-lab" groups internationally.

---

​Mission

We aim to improve patient outcomes in neurology or psychiatry via scientific discoveries using genomic, speciality clinic, and population-based data. We also want to implement pharmacogenomics and pharmacoepidemiological research findings into the clinical practice of neurology or psychiatry.

---

Values

1. Excellence - Strive for research that is of the highest level of excellence
2. Integrity - Be honest and have a moral compass
3. Innovative - Be creative and open to new ideas and methods
4. Equity - Treat others equally and irrespective of status, race, gender, sex, or sexual orientation
5. Responsibility - Understand that social responsibilities of medical research exist and that they should be respected

Recent News

04/2022:

• New paper on depressive symptom trajectories in IMID and polygenic risk scores
• New collaborative publication on the impact of educational attainment, IQ and intellectual disability on schizophrenia

02/2022:

• New collaborative publication on the use of polygenic risk scores in pharmacogenomics!

01/2022:

• Welcome to Mina, our new graduate student!

9/2021:

• NEW publication: Prevalence and Risk Factors of Substance Use Disorder in Rheumatoid Arthritis

6/2021

• New publications from the group over the last few months:
  • The association between family history and genomic burden with schizophrenia mortality: a Swedish population-based register and genetic sample study
  • Mendelian randomization provides no evidence for a causal role in the bidirectional relationship between depression and multiple sclerosis
  • ​Genetic architecture of schizophrenia: a review of major advancements

---

---

Funding & Research Partners