Thomas W. Glover, Phd

Biography

 Dr. Glover received his Ph.D. in Genetics from Michigan State University in 1979, followed by Postdoctoral Research in Human Cytogenetics at the University of Hawaii where he performed some of the earliest work on the Fragile X syndrome, and at Southwest Biomedical Research Institute in Tempe, Arizona where he received clinical cytogenetics training and ABMG certification. He joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in 1985 as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Human Genetics and Pediatrics and became Full Professor in 1999. He joined the faculty of the faculty of the Department of Pathology as Professor in 2012 where he serves as Associate Director of the Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory.  Dr. Glover research focuses on genome instability and mechanisms of copy number variant (CNV) formation. CNVs have only recently been found in the human genome where they play important roles in normal genomic variation and evolution. In addition, de novo CNVs are a major cause of genetic and developmental disorders and arise in most cancers. Despite their importance, there is limited understanding of how most CNVs are formed and the risk factors involved. Dr. Glover developed a novel model system to study the genetic and environmental causes of CNV formation in human cells and discovered that cellular exposure to inhibitors of DNA replication lead to a high frequency of de novo CNVs spanning tens to hundreds of kb of DNA. Current efforts focus on identifying the genetic and environmental factors involved in CNV formation both in cells in vitro and in mice in vivo. He has published over 140 peer-reviewed research papers, has served on numerous NIH and foundation grant review study sections and has been involved in a number of national and international organizations, including currently serving on the Research Advisory Boards for the March of Dimes and the Progeria Research Foundation. He is actively involved in graduate and medical education, and has trained a number of Ph.D. students and Post-doctoral Fellows who have moved on to successful careers in science and medicine. He is a member of AAAS, the American Society of Human Genetics and the American College of Medical Genetics (Founding Fellow).

Research Interest

 Genome instability; mechanisms and risk factors involved in the formation of copy number variants (CNVs) and related genomic alterations; DNA repair; chromosome fragile sites; Hutchinson Gilford Progeria syndrome.