What can ancient DNA tell us about the evolution of disease susceptibility?
For our next talk, in the BDI/CHG (gen)omics Seminar series, we will be hearing from Evan Irving-Pease, Group Leader, in Quantitative and Population Genetics, BDI and CHG, University of Oxford. We’re delighted to host Evan in what promises to be a great talk!

Date: Tuesday 3 February
Time: 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Talk title: What can ancient DNA tell us about the evolution of disease susceptibility?
Location: Big Data Institute, Seminar Room 1

Abstract
Rapid increases in the size of large genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have provided new prospects for understanding the genetic evolution of complex traits and disease susceptibility in humans. In turn, genomes from ancient human archaeological remains are now easier than ever to obtain and provide a direct window into changes in frequencies of trait-associated alleles in the past. This has generated a new wave of studies aiming to analyse the genetic component of traits in historic and prehistoric times using ancient DNA, and to determine whether any such traits were subject to natural selection. In this talk I will review recent advances in the field, with specific reference to how ancient DNA is informing our understanding of the evolution of disease susceptibility and the genetic legacy of ancient populations to present-day disease risk.

Short biography
Evan is a Research Fellow and Group Leader at the Big Data Institute and the Centre for Human Genetics. Evan leads the Evolutionary Medicine group, funded by the Royal Society and the ERC, which uses computational and statistical approaches to understand how natural selection has shaped the genetic risk for common and infectious diseases. Evan’s undergraduate degrees were in Archaeology and Computer Science, before he undertook an MSc and DPhil in Palaeogenomics at the University of Oxford. During his postdoctoral work at the University of Copenhagen, he developed tools and methods to improve the modelling of complex trait evolution using ancient DNA.
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Date: 3 February 2026, 9:30
Venue: Big Data Institute, Old Road Campus OX3 7LF
Venue Details: Seminar room 1
Speaker: Evan Irving-Pease (University of Oxford)
Organising department: Big Data Institute (NDPH)
Organiser: Sumeeta Maheshwari (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: sumeeta.maheshwari@ndph.ox.ac.uk
Hosts: Dr Nicky Whiffin (University of Oxford), Duncan Palmer (University of Oxford)
Part of: BDI/CHG Genomics Seminar Series
Booking required?: Not required
Booking email: sumeeta.maheshwari@ndph.ox.ac.uk
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Sumeeta Maheshwari