Problems in the Biology of Complex Diseases
When
Weekly Colloquium, Spring 2026
Problems in the Biology of Complex Diseases
(CMM, MCB, GENE, IMB, PCOL 595H)
Friday, 9-10.50 am, Keating Bioresearch Building, Rm. 103
https://arizona.zoom.us/j/84598946410
Human complex diseases such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, are major biomedical challenges, because they are common but difficult to decipher. The complexity of these diseases is reflected by their phenotypic heterogeneity and likely results from intricate interactions among genetic, environmental and developmental factors that modify disease susceptibility and severity. Understanding complex diseases is urgent, because these conditions impose a major burden on our society. Yet, this goal cannot be achieved by isolated research disciplines. Rather, it requires a novel paradigm that successfully integrates basic and clinical research across multiple fields and translates mechanisms into phenotypes and phenotypes into treatments. This novel paradigm provides the underpinning for this Colloquium.
The Colloquium features speakers who are nationally and internationally renowned for their work in environmental biology, immunology, translational research, microbiome, epigenetics, genetics, and functional analyses of complex traits in human and animal models. The speakers list changes every year. The vision underpinning the Colloquium is unique in that the discussion focuses particularly on the biological components shared by ostensibly distinct complex diseases (for instance, asthma, metabolic diseases and cancer). The underlying assumption, which will emerge loud and clear as the Colloquium unfolds, is that these shared components fundamentally define the mechanistic architecture of complex diseases as a group. Therefore, the goal of the Colloquium is to provide a platform that catalyzes broad, expert discussions on these foundational topics, thereby fostering the emergence of a new experimental and conceptual paradigm in complex disease biology.
The 2026 Colloquium is convened in person for UA students and faculty, but as in the past, interested participants from everywhere are welcome to attend using the Zoom link provided above.