Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, Minor in Biology - Drake University, Des Moines, IA (2019)
Hello! My name is Alexandra (Alex), and I was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Biology from Drake University in 2019. During my undergraduate studies, I cultivated a passion for research and understanding the genetic basis of human disease during two intramural and two extramural research experiences. These experiences led me to pursue translational research at the Mayo Clinic, where I conducted clinical and cardio-genomics research prior to entering medical school. At Mayo, I was exposed to many facets of genomic research including variant annotation, digital tool development, statistical genetics, epidemiological studies, phenotypic algorithm development, and clinical trials.
My research, in the lab of Dr. Jason Karnes, currently investigates how genetic variation shapes disease susceptibility using the All of Us Research Program dataset. Specifically, I am using bioinformatic methods to investigate the effects of APOL1 variants on kidney disease and infectious diseases across genetic ancestry populations. I am committed to bridging the bench and bedside as a physician-scientist, with the goal of advancing precision medicine and improving patient outcomes through genomics-informed clinical care.
Outside of lab and school, I love being outdoors, hiking, reading, spending time with my friends and family, and finding any excuse to host a dinner party.
Professional Societies:
Trainee Member, American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
Member, American Medical Association (AMA)
Member, American Physician Scientists Association (APSA)
Recipient, University of Arizona Travel Grants (UA COM-T, CTS Department)
Member, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
Suma Cum Laude Graduation Honors, Drake University
Scholarship Recipient, Psyche M. Gooden Scholarship for Excellence in Scholarship in Psychology and Neuroscience
Dean’s List (cumulative GPA ≥ 3.5), Drake Universit
President's List (cumulative GPA 4.0), Drake University
Member, Nu-Ro-Psi Neuroscience Honors Society
Arani G, Arora A, Yang S, Wu J, Kraszewski JN, Martins A, Miller A, Zeba Z, Jafri A, Hu C, Farland LV, Bea JW, Coletta DK, Aslan DH, Sayre MK, Bharadwaj PK, Ally M, Maltagliati S, Lai MHC, Wilcox R, … Klimentidis YC. “Plasma Proteomic Signatures of Physical Activity Provide Insights into Biological Impacts and Its Protective Role Against Dementia”. Med Sci Sports Exerc. January 2026. PMID: 41582318.
Connolly JJ, Berner ES, Smith M,…Miller A, et al. “Education and electronic medical records and genomics network, challenges, and lessons learned from a large-scale clinical trial using polygenic risk scores”. Genet Med. 2023. PMID: 37246632.
Linder JE, Allworth A, Bland HT,…Miller A, et al. “Returning integrated genomic risk and clinical recommendations: The eMERGE study”. Genet Med. 2023. PMID: 36621880.
Miller A, Bangash H, Smith C, Wood-Wentz C, Bailey K, Kullo I. “A Pragmatic Clinical Trial of Cascade Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia”. Genet Med September 2022. PMID: 36173399.
Bangash H, Makkawy A, Gundelach J, Miller A, Jacobson K, Kullo I. “Web-Based Tool (FH Family Share) to Increase Uptake of Cascade Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Development and Evaluation”. JMIR Hum Factors. 2022. PMID: 35166678.
Saadatagah S, Jose M, Dikilitas O, Alhalabi L, Miller A, Fan X, Olson J, Kochan D, Safarova M, Kullo I. “Genetic basis of hypercholesterolemia in adults”. NPJ Genom Med. 2021. PMID: 33854068.
Zonneville J, Colligan S, Grant S, Miller A, Wallace P, Abrams S, Bakin A. “Blockade of p38 kinase impedes the mobilization of protumorigenic myeloid populations to impact breast cancer metastasis”. International Journal of Cancer. 2020. PMID: 32452014.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5251-1759
Selected Presentations:
Miller A. “Phenome-wide Association of APOL1 Risk Alleles in the All of Us Research Program”. Research Panel 1: How Our DNA Shapes Health Across All Communities. All of Us Science Day 2026. 2026 April 15. Oral Presentation.
Miller A. “Phenome-wide association of APOL1 risk alleles”. University of Arizona Graduate College Grand Slam Competition. 2026 February 9. Short Form Oral Presentation.
Miller A. “Exploration of APOL1 and its Phenotypic Associations in the All of Us Research Program”. Clinical Translational Sciences Student Seminar. 2025 November 5. Seminar Presentation.
Miller A, Vicenti A, Khajouei E, Martinez K, Tran TC, Denny JC, Wheeler TJ, Karnes JH. Phenome-wide association of APOL1 risk alleles in the All of Us Research Program. Poster Board 1108W. Poster presented at: ASHG 2025 Annual Meeting. The American Society of Human Genetics; 2025 October 15; Boston, MA.
Miller A, Vicenti A, Khajouei E, Martinez K, Wheeler T, Karnes J. “Characterization of APOL1 Alleles in the All of Us Research Program”. University of Arizona Translational Medicine Symposium. 2025 May 30. Poster.
Miller A, Nigbur S, Petrzelka J, Bangash H, Hussain S, Caraballo P, Freimuth R, Kullo I. Electronic Health Record-Based Recruitment for Genomic Research Studies. Poster Board 2166. Poster presented at: ASHG 2022 Annual Meeting. The American Society of Human Genetics; 2022 October 25-29; Los Angeles, CA.
Miller A, Kullo I. “EHR-based Recruitment for eMERGE IV”. Electronic Medical Records and Genomics Network Steering Committee Meeting. June 2022. Panel Presentation.
Miller A, Kullo I. “A Clinical Trial of Cascade Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia”. Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Research Seminar. March 2022. Seminar Presentation.
Miller A, Nigbur S, Kullo I. Increasing Detection of Familial Hypercholesterolemia in an Academic Medical Center: Familial Hypercholesterolemia Identification Registry (FHIRE). Program Number 1272. Platform presentation presented at: ASHG 2021 Annual Meeting. American Society of Human Genetics; 2021 October 18-22; Virtual Meeting.
Miller A, Kochan D, Kullo I. Cascade Testing for Familial Hypercholesterolemia: an ’Enrollment Gap’. Poster Board 3043. Poster presented at: ASHG 2020 Annual Meeting. The American Society of Human Genetics; 2020 October 27-31; Virtual Meeting.
Miller A, Kochan D, Kullo I. “Cascade Testing for Hypercholesterolemia”. American Physician Scientists Association Midwest Regional Conference, Rochester, MN. 2019 October 5. Poster.
Miller A, Kochan D, Kullo I. “Cascade Testing for Hypercholesterolemia”. Mayo Clinical Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 3-Minute Thesis Competition, Rochester, MN. 2019 July 31. Oral Presentation. 2nd Place Award for “Best 3-Minute Thesis”
Miller A, Zonneville J, Grant S, Walden R, Colligan S, Abrams S, Bakin A. “The Role of p38MAPK in the Tumor Microenvironment”. 2018 Summer Research Experience in Cancer Sciences Conference, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY. 8-10 August 2018. Oral and Poster Presentations.“Best Elevator Talk” Award