Decoding the Data Ecosystem

Decoding the Data Ecosystem


Episode 13: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Statistical Analysis in Genomic Data

January 09, 2026

Description

In this episode, Allissa Dillman talks with John Kwagyan about the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in genomics and personalized medicine as well as the promise of these technologies in analyzing complex biological data to advance disease prediction, prevention, and personalized treatments. They also discuss machine learning models, the differences between machine learning and statistical learning, explainable AI, and ethical considerations, as well as the skills future researchers will need to thrive in the AI-genomics landscape.


Guest Bio

John Kwagyan, PhD, is a Statistician and Graduate Associate Professor of Public Health at Howard University College of Medicine, and serves as co-Director of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design (BERD) at the Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science (GHUCCTS). He is co-PI of the Public Health Informatics and Technology program for District of Columbia (PHIT4DC), and PI (Data Science Core) of the recently funded Howard-Hopkins Comprehensive Alliance in Cancer Research and Education (H2CARE). His research interests include statistical genetics and predictive modelling of clustered data with applications to clinical and public health outcomes.