The 2026 M. Michael Barmada Memorial Lecture, presented by Eleanor Feingold, PhD, Dean, College of Science, Oregon State University

Genetic Studies of Down Syndrome and Meiotic Recombination
Aneuploidy in human gametes,  embryos, and even live births is surprisingly common. The maternal age effect is well known, but both genetic and environmental effects can contribute to risk of aneuploidy. Many of these effects are mediated through phenotypes related to genetic recombination, as physical crossovers stabilize chromosomes during meiosis. This talk traces several decades of genetic epidemiological work on genetic and other risk factors for human aneuploidy.

Dr. Feingold has spent her scientific career as a statistical geneticist and genetic epidemiologist, studying traits as varied as dental caries, Alzheimers, and oral cancer, as well as developing methods for new types of genomic data over a number of generations of technology development. The one constant has been the study of traits related to human reproduction, particularly meiotic recombination and aneuploidy. She spent most of her professional career in the Department of Human Genetics at Pitt, where her colleagues were a constant source of inspiration, education, and friendship. Key among those was Mike Barmada, whose perspectives on computational issues in genomic studies and genomic medicine were formative. Since 2023 she has served as Dean of the College of Science at Oregon State University, returning to Pittsburgh as often as possible to stay connected to human genetics research.

The M Michael Barmada Memorial Lecture serves two purposes.  First, it honors the memory of Dr Barmada for all of us who knew him well.  Second, it serves as a tool to educate those who never met him on examples of greatness.  This year’s lecture provides an eye-witness account of someone who knew him well and can speak to both goals of this event. Here, I will give three perspectives that I cherish: His intellect, His humility, His humanity.  A few examples in each category are intended to make the points, including his impact on helping me to frame pancreatic genetics and to lay the foundations of precision medicine for complex chronic conditions.  The short life of Dr Barmada mattered, and because of him, the world is a better place. 
https://www.utimes.pitt.edu/archives/?p=41709