Research Interests
Key words: Rare Disease, Real World Data, Ontologies, Semantics, Precision Medicine
Translational science breaks down traditional silos between scientific disciplines, empowering research innovation and implementation in biomedicine. The Translational and Integrative Sciences Laboratory (TISLab) applies semantic engineering technologies to these varied disciplines to understand the relationship between phenotypes, genetic endowment, and the environment. We aim to accelerate progress and amplify discovery in areas such as rare diseases, long-Covid, Down Syndrome, cancer, and for societal and public health issues such as pandemic response and climate change. TISLab builds global standards to aid communities in advancing their own analytics and is an invested partner in open and team science with diverse contributors.
Mentor Training:
Publications
Melissa Haendel in UNC Genetics News
March 6, 2026
Haendel Publishes Health Data Policy Paper in Science
Dr. Melissa Haendel (Distinguished Professor, Genetics) is first author on a newly published paper in Science titled “Governing real-world health data as a public utility”.
February 27, 2026
UNC Health Launches Revolutionary Coding Standard to Transform Rare Disease Diagnosis Nationwide
A geneticist at the UNC School of Medicine has coordinated the development of Mondo, the world’s first standardized rare disease coding tool. Mondo is designed to streamline the diagnosis and treatment planning for millions of patients with rare diseases internationally.
February 20, 2026
Department of Genetics Publications for December 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 37 papers in December 2025.
December 16, 2025
Department of Genetics Publications for November 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 29 papers in November 2025.
November 5, 2025
Department of Genetics Publications for October 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 40 papers in October 2025.
October 20, 2025
Toro and Haendel Publish Mondo Paper in GENETICS
Drs. Sabrina Toro (Assistant Professor) and Melissa Haendel (Distinguished Professor) are the corresponding and senior authors, respectively, on a newly published manuscript titled “Mondo: Integrating disease terminologies across communities”.
October 13, 2025
Department of Genetics Publications for September 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 33 papers in September 2025.
September 14, 2025
Department of Genetics Publications for August 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 25 papers in August 2025.
August 8, 2025
Department of Genetics Publications for June 29th – August 2nd, 2025
Department of Genetics faculty, postdocs, students and collaborators published 39 papers during June 29th - August 2nd 2025.
July 3, 2025
Melissa Haendel (Professor of Genetics; School of Data Science and Society) Appears on “The Genetics Podcast”
Dr. Melissa Haendel (Professor of Genetics; School of Data Science and Society) participated in a July 2025 episode of "The Genetics Podcast" with host Dr. Patrick Short.