Andrew Hillhouse, PhD

Biography

My research interests are centered around the complexity of intestinal health and the interplay between genetic polymorphisms, the immune system, and intestinal microbiota that interact to cause intestinal disease with a focus on inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. The inflammatory bowel diseases are complex with an etiology that requires a combination of genetic, immunological, microbial, and environmental contributions in disease development. A major part of my graduate work sought to identify genetic loci associated with susceptibility to a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease. In carrying out this research I became interested in how inflammation can affect cancer development. My current work is focused on identifying genetic loci responsible for disease development in a mouse model of inflammation-associated colon cancer.
As the Associate Director of the Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences and Society (TIGSS) Molecular Genomics Workspace, it has been my job to develop a resource for campus investigators to assist in genomics- based projects. Over the last five years the workspace has become an invaluable source of information, equipment and expertise for molecular biology techniques and practices from sample processing and preparation to next generation sequencing and analysis. My goals moving forward are to continue the experimental support we provide, as well as increase our collaborations with campus investigators.