Bo XIA

Bo Xia’s interdisciplinary training led him to several impactful genomic discoveries of human development and evolution. The interdisciplinary experience has led to the proposal of a series of innovative models and theories, including the “transcriptional scanning” model and the “periodic table of cell types” framework, and has revealed the relevant mechanisms of human evolution and genetic diseases.

Through systematic comparative genomics, Bo identified a novel mechanism where transposable DNA elements influence gene function by altering the format of gene expression products. This discovery provides the first genetic evidence to this centuries-long human curiosity and mystery.

To accelerate genetic research and discoveries, Bo established his independent laboratory at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in 2022, focusing on developing transformative technologies to explore new frontiers in genomics. His team developed an in silico genetic screen (ISGS) method using deep neural networks to predict the effects of genetic mutations on genome regulation, allowing for efficient genetic research without the need for large-scale experiments. This breakthrough enables researchers to gain deeper insights into how genes affect human health and could accelerate the development of new approaches to treating genetic diseases.

Bo’s goal remains steadfast: to unlock the secrets of the human genome through developing cutting-edge technologies, paving the way for groundbreaking biomedical discoveries and transformative therapeutic strategies.