Edwin Oh, Ph.D.
Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Water Intelligence and Community Health
Biography
Edwin Oh, Ph.D., earned his bachelor of science in cellular and molecular biology and his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Following a postdoctoral fellowship in human genetics at Johns Hopkins University, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Duke University. Ed is now a tenured professor in the UNLV College of Sciences and serves as executive director of the Center for Water Intelligence and Community Health. He also holds affiliated appointments in Brain Health, the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, and the Interdisciplinary Program in Water Resources.
Research Interest
Ed directs a multidisciplinary research program that integrates genomics, neuroscience, engineering, and computer science to tackle diverse biomedical challenges. From 2018 to 2023, the UNLV team led an NIH R01-funded study on the role of cilia in schizophrenia, establishing mutant mouse models, creating CRISPR-engineered cell lines, and sequencing ciliary genes in treatment-resistant patients. In collaboration with clinical partners in Las Vegas, the team also investigates risk factors for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury, applying advanced approaches in genetics, neuroimaging, and blood biomarker discovery.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the team partnered with community stakeholders to launch a wastewater-based biosecurity initiative. This work established methods to recover and analyze microbial genomes from wastewater and clinical samples and led to the EMPOWER dashboard, which maps viral levels and variants across Nevada. Building on this foundation, the program has expanded through NIH-funded wastewater intelligence initiatives, including a 2025 R21 award focused on emerging pathogens. Supported by public–private partnerships and equipped with advanced platforms, ranging from liquid handling robots to next-generation sequencers and mass spectrometers, the team integrates genomics, chemical forensics, bioinformatics, and AI to generate actionable insights from complex datasets.
The program is now extending its ‘omics and data science capabilities to characterize a broader spectrum of pathogens and chemical analytes, including synthetic opioids, stimulants, and environmental contaminants. These efforts reinforce early warning systems for public health threats and strengthen regional biosecurity, while also advancing clean water technologies that translate wastewater intelligence into solutions for water purification and sustainable management. Together, these initiatives culminated in the establishment of the Center for Water Intelligence and Community Health in 2025, a hub for water-based testing, biosecurity innovation, clean water solutions, and the training of the next generation of scientists at the intersection of genomics, public health, and engineering.
Areas of Interest and Expertise
Functional Genomics, Infectious Diseases, Clean Water and Wastewater Initiatives, Schizophrenia and Autism, Addiction, and Precision Medicine