Department of OBGYN

David G. Peters, PhD

  • Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
  • Professor, Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh

I am focused on developing blood tests, and other non-invasive methods, for the early detection and analysis of complex human diseases. My goal is to reduce the burden and impact of disease through earlier and more accurate diagnosis that informs personalised approaches to treatment.

Education & Training

  • Postdoctoral training, Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh
  • PhD, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom

Representative Publications

  • Good M, Chu T, Shaw P, McClain L, Chamberlain A, Castro C, Rimer JM, Mihi B, Gong Q, Nolan, LS, Cooksey K, Linneman L, Agrawal, P, Finegold DN, Peters D*. NEC-Associated DNA Methylation Signatures in Colon are Evident in Stool Samples of Affected Individuals Epigenomics. 2021 Jun;13(11):829-844. PMID: 33905263
  • Good M, Chu T, Shaw P, McClain L, Chamberlain A, Castro C, Rimer JM, Mihi B, Gong Q, Nolan LS, Cooksey K, Linneman L, Agrawal, P, Finegold DN, Peters D*. Global Hypermethylation of Intestinal Epithelial Cells is a Hallmark Feature of Neonatal Surgical Necrotizing Enterocolitis. Clinical Epigenetics. 2020. Dec 11;12(1):190. PMID 33308304
  • Pan L, McClain L, Shaw P, Donnellan N, Chu T, Finegold D, Peters D*. Non-invasive epigenomic molecular phenotyping of the human brain via liquid biopsy of cerebrospinal fluid and next generation sequencing. Eur J Neurosci. 2020 Oct 6. PMID: 33020990
  • Chu T, Shaw P, McClain L, Simhan H, Peters D*. High-resolution epigenomic liquid biopsy for noninvasive phenotyping in pregnancy. Prenat Diagn. 2020 Oct 1. PMID: 33002217
  • McClain LL, Shaw P, Sabol R, Chedia AM, Segretti AM, Rengasamy M, Finegold DN, Pan L, Peters DG*. Rare variants and biological pathways identified in treatment-refractory depression. Neurosci Res. 2020 Jul;98(7):1322-1334. PMID: 32128872
  • McClain L, Segreti AM, Nau S, Shaw P, Finegold DN, Pan LA, Peters DG*. Chromosome 15q13.3 microduplications are associated with treatment refractory major depressive disorder. Genes Brain Behav. 2020 Jun;19(5):e12628. PMID: 31828948
  • Chu T, Yeniterzi S, Dunkel M, Rajkovic A, Hogge WA, Peters DG*. Comparative evaluation of the minimally-invasive Karyotyping (MINK) Algorithm for non-invasive prenatal testing. PLoS. 2017; 12(3):e0171882
  • Zhang P, Chu T, Dedousis N, Benjamin S. Sipula I, Li L, Bunce K, Shaw P, Zhu J, Argmann C, O’Doherty RM, Peters DG* and Scott DK. DNA methylation alters transcriptional rates of differentially expressed genes and contributes to pathophysiology in mice fed a high fat diet. Mol. Metab. 2017; 6(4):327-339

Clinical Interests/Research Interests

Research at the lab is focused on understanding the biology and utility of cell-free nucleic acids present in human fluid reservoirs such as plasma, stool and cerebrospinal fluid. This work is motivated by the need to develop methods for the non-invasive detection and phenotyping of silently progressing human disease. To achieve these goals, the lab combines high-throughput methods in translational genomics with novel computational approaches.

Research Grants

CURRENT LAB FUNDING

  • Non-Invasive Analysis of Methylated Cell Free DNA in Necrotizing Enterocolitis (Co-PIs: D Peters, M Good), NIH/NIDDK - R01 DK124614, (07/01/2021-07/31/2026).
  • Liquid Biopsy for Complex Disease Detection and Phenotyping (PI: D Peters), Signature Diagnostics, (02/01/2021-07/31/2022).
  • Neonatal gut-on-a-chip platform for high content drug testing and precision medicine (Co-I: D Peters, PI: M Good), NIH/NICHD - R01 105301, (04/01/21-03/31/26).
  • A Novel Platform for Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis and Screening (Co-I: D Peters, PI: R Bukanovich), DOD / U01OC200494, (06/01/2021-05/31/2023).
  • Epigenomic liquid biopsy for detection of preterm birth risk (PI: D Peters), Philanthropic, (01/01/2021-12/31/2023).
  • The Non-Invasive Early Detection of Endometriosis (PI: D Peters), MWRIF, (04/01/22-03/21/23).
     

RECENT LAB FUNDING

  • Non-Invasive Detection of Fetal Aneuploidy by Next-Generation DNA Sequencing (PI: D Peters), R01 HD068578-02 NIH/NICHD, (05/15/2011-01/31/2017).
  • A Stethoscope for the Brain (Co-PI: D Peters), The Beck Family Foundation, (06/01/2016-05/31/2018).
  • Towards the Development of New Treatment Strategies for Severe Depression and Suicidal Behavior (PI: D Peters), The Fine Foundation, (06/01/2016-05/31/2018).
  • Metabolomics of Treatment Refractory Depression and Suicidal Behavior (Co-PI: D Peters), Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, (04/01/2016-06/31/2020).
  • Novel Methods for Liquid Biopsy (PI: D Peters), Pittsburgh Health Data Alliance, (09/01/2017-08/31/2019).
  • Risk Factors and Screening for Preterm Birth (PI: D Peters), PA Department of Health, (07/01/2019-06/30/2021).