![Dr Daniel Hwang](/sites/default/files/profiles/20291.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Dr Daniel Liang-Dar Hwang is a genetic epidemiologist and statistical geneticist by training. His research interests include sensory nutrition, causal modelling, and personalized nutrition. Dr Hwang applies statistical models to big data to understand genetic and environmental factors contributing to individual differences in taste and olfactory perception and their relationship with dietary behaviour and chronic conditions (See his research on taste perception in The Conversation). He develops methods for increasing statistical power for gene discovery, estimating intergenerational causal relationships, and personalized intervention. He also works with clinicians to investigate impaired chemosensory perception in cancer patients and COVID-19.
Daniel has a B.Sc from the National Taiwan University, majoring in Biochemical Science and Technology, and an M.Biotech from the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation, he worked as a research technician in Danielle Reed's lab at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, where he first developed a keen interest in genetics and chemosensory perception. Later, he was awarded scholarships to complete an M.Sc in Nutrition at the University of Washington, under the supervision of Glen Duncan, and a PhD in Genetic Epidemiology at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, under the supervision of Nicholas Martin and Margaret Wright. He then joined David Evans's group as a postdoc at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute (now the Frazer Institute). Dr Hwang is an ARC DECRA Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience.
Dr Hwang has published more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. His work has been referred to in international health policy guidelines and a WHO report for the intervention of childhood obesity and in a global patent for personalized wine selection. He is on the editorial boards of BMC Medicine and Twin Research and Human Genetics. Dr Hwang is a Leadership Team member of the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research, a global initiative to understand the relationship between smell loss and COVID-19 and foster the advancement of chemosensory science. He currently drives an international collaborative project to investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccinations on long-COVID symptoms. Dr Hwang is a member of the National Committee for Nutrition of the Australian Academy of Science. He contributes to implementing the decadal plan for the science of nutrition in Australia.
Availability
- Dr Daniel Hwang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Biotechnology, University of Pennsylvania
- Masters (Research) of Science, University of Washington
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Daniel Hwang’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
A note on modelling bidirectional feedback loops in Mendelian randomization studies
Hwang, Liang-Dar and Evans, David M. (2024). A note on modelling bidirectional feedback loops in Mendelian randomization studies. Behavior Genetics, 54 (4), 367-373. doi: 10.1007/s10519-024-10183-0
2024
Journal Article
Advancing the decadal plan for the science of nutrition: progressing a framework for implementation
Truby, Helen, Allman‐Farinelli, Margaret, Beck, Eleanor J., Beckett, Emma L., Bondonno, Catherine, Dordevic, Aimee L., Livingstone, Katherine M., Willcox, Jane, Wilkinson, Shelley A., the National Committee for Nutrition and its working groups, Hwang, Liang-Dar, McNaughton, Sarah, Padayachee, Anneline, Roura, Eugeni, Gidley, Mike and Canfell, Oliver (2024). Advancing the decadal plan for the science of nutrition: progressing a framework for implementation. Nutrition and Dietetics, 81 (2), 133-148. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12876
2024
Conference Publication
Several genetic SNPs identified in acute appendicitis patients including the HLA-C known to be related to coeliac disease in a Genome-Wide Association Study
Ryoo, M., Hwang, L-D., Wright, O., Brown, J., de Pouplana, L.R. and Roura, E. (2024). Several genetic SNPs identified in acute appendicitis patients including the HLA-C known to be related to coeliac disease in a Genome-Wide Association Study. 57th Nutrition Society of New Zealand and 47th Nutrition Society of Australia Joint Annual Scientific Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand, 28 November – 1 December 2023. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/s0029665124001721
2024
Journal Article
Understanding the determinants of sweet taste liking in the African and East Asian ancestry groups in the U.S.–A study protocol
Cheung, May M., Hubert, Patrice A., Reed, Danielle R., Pouget, Enrique R., Jiang, Xinyin and Hwang, Liang-Dar (2024). Understanding the determinants of sweet taste liking in the African and East Asian ancestry groups in the U.S.–A study protocol. PLoS One, 19 (4 April) e0300071, e0300071. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300071
2023
Journal Article
New insights into polygenic score–Lifestyle interactions for cardiometabolic risk factors from genome-wide interaction analyses
D’Urso, Shannon and Hwang, Liang-Dar (2023). New insights into polygenic score–Lifestyle interactions for cardiometabolic risk factors from genome-wide interaction analyses. Nutrients, 15 (22) 4815, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/nu15224815
2023
Journal Article
Intrauterine growth and offspring neurodevelopmental traits: a Mendelian randomization analysis of the Norwegian mother, father and child cohort study (MoBa)
D’Urso, Shannon, Moen, Gunn-Helen, Hwang, Liang-Dar, Hannigan, Laurie J., Corfield, Elizabeth C., Ask, Helga, Johannson, Stefan, Njølstad, Pål Rasmus, Beaumont, Robin N., Freathy, Rachel M., Evans, David M. and Havdahl, Alexandra (2023). Intrauterine growth and offspring neurodevelopmental traits: a Mendelian randomization analysis of the Norwegian mother, father and child cohort study (MoBa). JAMA Psychiatry, 81 (2), 144-156. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.3872
2023
Conference Publication
Consumption of diets rich in animal protein, saturated fat, or sodium, and low in fibre are associated with increased risk of acute appendicitis
Ryoo, M., Hwang, D., Wright, O., Brown, J. and Roura, E. (2023). Consumption of diets rich in animal protein, saturated fat, or sodium, and low in fibre are associated with increased risk of acute appendicitis. 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, Perth, WA Australia, 29 November – 2 December 2022. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/s0029665123001258
2023
Conference Publication
Increased risk of acute appendicitis linked to biological sex, ethnic background, obesity, and smoking status
Ryoo, M., Hwang, D., Wright, O., Brown, J. and Roura, E. (2023). Increased risk of acute appendicitis linked to biological sex, ethnic background, obesity, and smoking status. 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, Perth, WA Australia, 29 November – 2 December 2022. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/s0029665123001714
2023
Conference Publication
Contributions of Maternal Classical HLA Alleles and Spousal HLA Incompatibility to the Risk of Miscarriages and Stillbirths
Nunes, Caroline Brito, Hwang, Liang-Dar, Wang, Geng, Yengo, Loic, Leggatt, Graham, Moen, Gunn-Helen and Evans, David M. (2023). Contributions of Maternal Classical HLA Alleles and Spousal HLA Incompatibility to the Risk of Miscarriages and Stillbirths. 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Brisbane Australia, Mar 21-25, 2023. HEIDELBERG: SPRINGER HEIDELBERG.
2022
Journal Article
Mendelian randomization analysis of factors related to ovulation and reproductive function and endometrial cancer risk
D’Urso, Shannon, Arumugam, Pooja, Weider, Therese, Hwang, Liang-Dar, Bond, Tom A., Kemp, John P., Warrington, Nicole M., Evans, David M., O’Mara, Tracy A. and Moen, Gunn-Helen (2022). Mendelian randomization analysis of factors related to ovulation and reproductive function and endometrial cancer risk. BMC Medicine, 20 (1) 419, 1-17. doi: 10.1186/s12916-022-02585-w
2022
Journal Article
Using adopted individuals to partition indirect maternal genetic effects into prenatal and postnatal effects on offspring phenotypes
Hwang, Liang-Dar, Moen, Gunn-Helen and Evans, David M. (2022). Using adopted individuals to partition indirect maternal genetic effects into prenatal and postnatal effects on offspring phenotypes. eLife, 11 e73671, 1-27. doi: 10.7554/elife.73671
2022
Journal Article
Mendelian randomization study of maternal coffee consumption and its influence on birthweight, stillbirth, miscarriage, gestational age and pre-term birth
Brito Nunes, Caroline, Huang, Peiyuan, Wang, Geng, Lundberg, Mischa, D’Urso, Shannon, Wootton, Robyn E., Borges, Maria Carolina, Lawlor, Deborah A., Warrington, Nicole M., Evans, David M., Hwang, Liang-Dar and Moen, Gunn-Helen (2022). Mendelian randomization study of maternal coffee consumption and its influence on birthweight, stillbirth, miscarriage, gestational age and pre-term birth. International Journal of Epidemiology, 52 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyac121
2022
Journal Article
A follow-up on quantitative and qualitative olfactory dysfunction and other symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19 smell loss
Ohla, K, Veldhuizen, M G, Green, T, Hannum, M E, Bakke, A J, Moein, S T, Tognetti, A, Postma, E M, Pellegrino, R, Hwang, D L D, Albayay, J, Koyama, S, Nolden, A A, Thomas-Danguin, T, Mucignat-Caretta, C, Menger, N S, Croijmans, I, Öztürk, L, Yanık, H, Pierron, D, Pereda-Loth, V, Nunez-Parra, A, Martinez Pineda, A M, Gillespie, D, Farruggia, M C, Cecchetto, C, Fornazieri, M A, Philpott, C, Voznessenskaya, V ... Niv, M Y (2022). A follow-up on quantitative and qualitative olfactory dysfunction and other symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19 smell loss. Rhinology, 60 (3), 207-217. doi: 10.4193/Rhin21.415
2022
Journal Article
Exploring polygenic contributors to subgroups of comorbid conditions in autism spectrum disorder
Klein, Louis, D’Urso, Shannon, Eapen, Valsamma, Hwang, Liang-Dar and Lin, Ping-I (2022). Exploring polygenic contributors to subgroups of comorbid conditions in autism spectrum disorder. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 3416. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-07399-7
2022
Journal Article
Investigating a potential causal relationship between maternal blood pressure during pregnancy and future offspring cardiometabolic health
Wang, Geng, Bhatta, Laxmi, Moen, Gunn-Helen, Hwang, Liang-Dar, Kemp, John P., Bond, Tom A., Åsvold, Bjørn Olav, Brumpton, Ben, Evans, David M. and Warrington, Nicole M. (2022). Investigating a potential causal relationship between maternal blood pressure during pregnancy and future offspring cardiometabolic health. Hypertension, 79 (1), 170-177. doi: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.121.17701
2022
Book Chapter
Integrating family-based and Mendelian randomization designs
Hwang, Liang-Dar, Davies, Neil M., Warrington, Nicole M. and Evans, David M. (2022). Integrating family-based and Mendelian randomization designs. Combining human genetics and causal inference to understand human disease and development. (pp. 137-150) edited by George Davey Smith, Rebecca Richmond and Jean-Baptiste Pingault. Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
2021
Conference Publication
Investigating a potential causal relationship between maternal blood pressure during pregnancy and future offspring cardiometabolic health
Wang, Geng, Bhatta, Laxmi, Moen, Gunn-Helen, Hwang, Liang-Dar, Kemp, John P., Bond, Tom A., Asvold, Bjorn Olav, Brumpton, Ben, Evans, David M. and Warrington, Nicole M. (2021). Investigating a potential causal relationship between maternal blood pressure during pregnancy and future offspring cardiometabolic health. Behavior Genetics Association 51st Annual Meeting, Online (Zoom), 29 June 2021. New York, United States: Springer.
2021
Conference Publication
Using Adopted Singletons to Partition Maternal Genetic Effects into Pre- and Post-natal Effects on Offspring Phenotype
Hwang, Liang-Dar, Moen, Gunn-Helen and Evans, David M. (2021). Using Adopted Singletons to Partition Maternal Genetic Effects into Pre- and Post-natal Effects on Offspring Phenotype. NEW YORK: SPRINGER.
2021
Journal Article
Estimating direct and indirect genetic effects on offspring phenotypes using genome-wide summary results data
Warrington, Nicole M., Hwang, Liang-Dar, Nivard, Michel G. and Evans, David M. (2021). Estimating direct and indirect genetic effects on offspring phenotypes using genome-wide summary results data. Nature Communications, 12 (1) 5420, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25723-z
2021
Journal Article
Correction to: The augmented Classical Twin Design: incorporating genome‐wide identity by descent sharing into twin studies in order to model violations of the equal environments assumption
Hwang, Liang-Dar, Mitchell, Brittany L., Medland, Sarah E., Martin, Nicholas G., Neale, Michael C. and Evans, David M. (2021). Correction to: The augmented Classical Twin Design: incorporating genome‐wide identity by descent sharing into twin studies in order to model violations of the equal environments assumption. Behavior Genetics, 51 (4), 441-442. doi: 10.1007/s10519-021-10065-9
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Daniel Hwang is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
-
Develop novel approaches for personalised nutrition using large-scale genetically informative data
Polygenic risk scores have provided informative predictions for highly heritable traits and has been intergrated into risk prediction models along with traditional clinicial measurements to improvde risk prediction of cardiometabolic disease and other inherited health conditions. This project aims to develop novel polygenic scores specifically for priotising interventions or "personalised intervention" rather than risk prediction.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Harnessing Genetically Informative Within-Family Research Designs for Deeper Insights into the Intrauterine Developmental Period and Downstream Effects on Offspring Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Evans, Dr Gunn-Helen Moen
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Doctor Philosophy
Multi-omic Approaches to Understanding Septic Shock
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Evans
-
Doctor Philosophy
Dietary patterns and molecular mechanisms associated with the pathogenicity of appendicitis in humans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Olivia Wright, Professor Eugeni Roura
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating a possible causal relationship between bone mineral density, osteoarthritis, and chronic pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adam Ewing, Dr John Kemp
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Daniel Hwang directly for media enquiries about:
- bitter
- genetics
- smell
- sweet
- taste
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