Title

Human Genomics for Health

Description

This special issue highlights the critical role of population genetics in unraveling the genomic basis of human health and disease. By dissecting genetic variations across populations, we aim to decode how evolutionary histories, migration patterns, and adaptive pressures shape susceptibility to complex traits, infectious diseases, and therapeutic responses. Topics will center on using population genomic approaches—such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), ancient DNA analysis, and demographic modeling—to trace the genetic footprints of historical events (e.g., pandemics, admixture) and their impact on modern health. We invite research exploring genetic diversity in understudied populations, the interplay between host genetics and microbiome evolution, and the application of population-scale genomic data to refine risk prediction models in precision medicine. Contributions addressing health disparities arising from genetic ancestry, ethical considerations in population-based biobanking, or the integration of population genetics with clinical epidemiology are strongly encouraged. Together, these insights will foster a deeper understanding of how global human genetic variation influences health outcomes, paving the way for inclusive, population-specific healthcare strategies.

Keywords

• Human genomics

• Precision medicine

• Genetic epidemiology

• Pharmacogenomics

• Cancer genomics

• Ancient DNA

• AI in genomics

• Health disparities

Topics

• Cancer genomics and evolutionary tumor dynamics

• Genetic basis of rare and complex diseases

• Pharmacogenomics and personalized drug development

• Ancient genomics and population health history

• Microbiome-genomics interactions in health and disease

• AI/machine learning in genomic data analysis

• Epigenomics and non-coding RNA in health regulation

• Genomic epidemiology and public health genomics

• Genomic medicine and precision therapy

• Ethical and regulatory challenges in genomic research

Content types

Articles, Reviews, Perspectives, Letters, Resources.

Deadline

September 31, 2026

Guest editors:

Chuan-Chao Wang

Professor

Organization: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Research area: Applying ancient genomics to understand human evolution and population history

Email: chuanchaowang@fudan.edu.cn

Shuhua Xu

Professor

Organization: Department of Anthropology and Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Research area: Population omics, human genetics, molecular evolution, bioinformatic

Email: xushua@fudan.edu.cn

Anna Szécsényi-Nagy

Senior Research Fellow

Organization: Institute of Archaeogenomics, ELTE Research Centre for the Humanities, Budapest, Hungary

Email: szecsenyi-nagy.anna@htk.elte.hu

Zhemin Zhou

Professor

Organization: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Geriatrics and Immunology, Suzhou Medical School, Soochow University, Suzhou, China

Research area: Large-scale genomic analysis for microbial population genetics

Email: zmzhou@suda.edu.cn

Qiao Ye

Professor

Organization: Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China

Research area: Aiation medicine, environmental medicine, molecular biomarkers

Email: yeqiao333@163.com

Guanglin He

Professor

Organization: Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Sichuan University

Research area: Precision identification in forensic genomics and genomic diversity of Chinese populations

Email: guanglinhescu@163.com

Submission guidelines

Please submit your paper through our online submission system. All papers will be peer-reviewed. The submission deadline is September 31, 2026. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together. Research articles, review articles, letters, commentaries as well as perspectives are invited.

hLife adopts format-free submission. Format-free submission means that, provided you include everything necessary for review and using a consistent citation format, you can submit your paper without needing to worry about formatting your manuscript to meet hLife’s requirements.

Please state in the cover letter that your submission is for the special section of “Human Genomics for Health”. Article Publishing Charges (APCs) for accepted papers of hLife will be waived by 2026. 

Submission website

https://www.editorialmanager.com/hlife