Alanna C. Morrison, PhD, FAHA

Professor and Chair, Department of Epidemiology
Co-Director, Human Genetics Center
Thomas Stull Matney, Ph.D. Endowed Professor in Environmental and Genetic Sciences
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Education and Training

PhD, MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas, 2001
Bachelor of Science, University of Michigan Honors College, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1996

Dr. Alanna C. Morrison is Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, where she also serves as Co-Director of the Human Genetics Center and holds the Thomas Stull Matney, Ph.D. Endowed Professorship. Her passion for human genetics and public health began as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan and led her to UTHealth Houston in 1996, where she earned her Ph.D. from the MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2001. She remained at UTHealth Houston for a postdoctoral fellowship and has been a faculty member since 2003.

Over more than 20 years, Dr. Morrison has advanced from assistant professor to full professor, earning tenure in 2011 and becoming department chair and center director in 2016. She played a key role in launching the certificate in Genomics and Bioinformatics and the online MPH in epidemiology. A dedicated mentor, she has guided nearly 100 MPH and doctoral students.

Internationally recognized for her research in genetic and cardiovascular epidemiology, Dr. Morrison has authored nearly 300 peer-reviewed publications and identified numerous genetic variants that influence cardiovascular disease and related traits, such as coagulation factors. Her research, supported by multiple extramural grants, seeks to understand the interplay of genes and environment in conditions such as coronary artery disease, venous thrombosis, heart failure, and diabetes. Her work has significantly impacted the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Morrison holds leadership positions in global consortia, including CHARGE and TOPMed, promoting data sharing and collaboration. Her contributions have earned her prestigious honors, including a fellowship from the American Heart Association, the 2020 President’s Scholar Award for Excellence in Research, and the School’s Research Mentoring Award.

She remains deeply committed to teaching, research, and innovation in public health. Through her leadership and vision, Dr. Morrison continues to shape world-class programs in cardiovascular and genetic epidemiology that drive progress and improve population health.

Bing Yu, PhD, FAHA

Professor, Department of Epidemiology
Co-Director, Human Genetics Center
JLH Foundation Distinguished Chair in Transplant Prevention
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health

Education and Training

PhD, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, 2013
Master of Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 2008
Bachelor of Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 2003

Dr. Bing Yu is a tenured Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health. She holds the JLH Foundation Distinguished Chair in Transplant Prevention and serves as Co-Director of the Human Genetics Center.

Dr. Yu is an epidemiologist with expertise in medicine, biostatistics, and genetics. Her research interests focus on discovering novel molecular biomarkers and underlying biological pathways for cardiopulmonary diseases. Since joining UTHealth Houston as a faculty member in 2015, she has developed a molecular epidemiological research program integrating genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches and received numerous awards from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that support her research. Dr. Yu has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and mentored scores of graduate students and junior researchers.

Her contribution to epidemiology and public health is multifaceted - she has served as a member of NIH and AHA study sections, has been elected as a fellow of AHA and appointed as a member of Observational Study Monitoring Board (OSMB) by NIH for a new cohort. She is dedicated to research, mentoring, and building research programs to improve public health and train the next generation of scientists.