Dr. Marco Colombo

Dr. Marco Colombo
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter – Lumineszenzlabor

Research focus

• Development of software and algorithms for biomarker discovery and prediction of disease complications
• Application of statistical techniques to the analysis of high-dimensional biomedical, -omics and genetic data
• Developer of the GENOSCORES platform for calculating genotypic predictors from publicly available genome-wide association studies
• Biomedical Data Science (analysis pipelines with R, model development, explorative data analysis, machine learning)
• Large-scale optimization and structure exploitation

Career path

• Since 08/2024: Research software engineer, luminescence laboratory, Heidelberg University, DE
• 07/2021–09/2022: Bioinformatician, Centre for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, DE
• 01/2019–05/2021: Independent Research Consultant, Lecco, IT
• 01/2017-05/2018: Lecturer of Biomedical Data Science, School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 10/2009–11/2018: Research fellow, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 04/2009-09/2009: MSc Project Supervision, School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 04/2007-03/2009: Postdoctoral Research Assistant, School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 01/2005-01/2007: PhD Research Assistant, School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, UK

Education

• 2007: PhD in Optimization, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 2003: MSc in Operational Research, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 2002: Visiting Student, University of Dundee, UK
• 2000: Degree in Economics and Business Administration, University of Bergamo, IT

Miscellaneous

• Since 2024: member of the RLum.Network, https://r-luminescence.org
• Since 2019: member of the Stan development team, https://mc-stan.org
• 2009–2018: System administrator, Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 2007–2017: Academic summer project supervisor in the MSc in Operational Research, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 2005-2007: Transferable Skills Team, College of Science and Engineering, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 2005-2006: Postgraduate Science Communication Team, University of Edinburgh, UK
• 2003-2006: Demonstrator and Teaching Assistant, School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, UK

Publications

Peer-review publications (° joint first authorship)
• P. Boczki, M. Colombo, J. Weiner, I. Rapöhn, M. Lacher, W. Kiess, M. Hanschkow, A. Körner and K. Landgraf Inhibition of AHCY impedes proliferation and differentiation of mouse and human adipocyte progenitor cells. Adipocyte, 13 (1), 2290218, 2024
• R. Ott, R. Stein, H.H. Hauta-alus, J. Ronkainen, S. Fernández-Barroso, U. Spielau, H. Kirsten, T. Poulain, P.E. Melton, L.K. Küpers, H. Azaryah, M. Colombo, K. Landgraf, E.W. Tobi, T. O'Sullivan, R-C. Huang, C. Campoy, C. Winkler, J. Vioque, M. Vrijheid, W. Kiess, A. Körner, S. Sebert, M-R. Jarvelin, A-G. Ziegler and S. Hummel Epigenome-wide meta-analysis reveals associations between dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and DNA methylation in children and adolescents of different body sizes. Diabetes Care, 46 (11), 2067–2075, 2023
• C. Hammel, R. Stein, J. Kratzsch, M. Vogel, A.J. Eckert, R.D. Triatin, M. Colombo, C. Meigen, R. Baber, J. Stanik, U. Spielau, A. Stoltze, K. Wirkner, A. Tönjes, H. Snieder, R.W. Holl, M. Stumvoll, M. Blüher, W. Kiess and A. Körner Variation of fasting indices of glucose-insulin-metabolism across life span and prediction of glycemic deterioration in children with obesity from new diagnostic cut-offs. The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 30, 100652, 2023
• A. Iakovliev, S. McGurnaghan, C. Hayward, M. Colombo, D. Lipschutz, A. Spiliopoulou, H.M. Colhoun and P.M. McKeigue Genome-wide aggregated trans- effects on risk of type 1 diabetes: a test of the 'omnigenic' sparse effector hypothesis of complex trait genetics. American Journal of Human Genetics, 110 (6), 913-926, 2023
• R. Stein, F. Koutny, J. Riedel, N. Dörr, K. Meyer, M. Colombo, M. Vogel, C.H. Anderwald, M. Blüher, W. Kiess, A. Körner and D. Weghuber Single Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE) as a prognostic marker for emerging dysglycemia in children with overweight/obesity. Metabolites, 13 (1), 100, 2023
• L.K. Küpers, S. Fernández-Barrés, G. Mancano, L. Johnson, R. Ott, J. Vioque, M. Colombo, K. Landgraf, E.W. Tobi, A. Körner, R. Gaillard, J.H.M. de Vries, V.W.V. Jaddoe, M. Vrijheid, G.C. Sharp and J.F. Felix Maternal dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in pregnancy and offspring cord blood DNA methylation. Diabetes Care, 45 (8), 1822-1832, 2022
• E. Valo°, M. Colombo°, N. Sandholm, S.J. McGurnaghan, L.A.K. Blackbourn, D. Dunger, P.M. McKeigue, C. Forsblom P-H. Groop, H.M. Colhoun, C. Turner and R.N. Dalton on behalf of the SDRNT1BIO Investigators and FinnDiane Study Group Effect of serum sample storage temperature on metabolomic and proteomic biomarkers. Scientific Reports, 12, 4571, 2022
• S.J. McGurnaghan, P.M. McKeigue, S.H. Read, S. Franzen, A-M. Svensson, M. Colombo, S. Livingstone, B. Farran, T.M. Caparrotta, L.A.K. Blackbourn, J. Mellor, I. Thoma, N. Sattar, S.H. Wild, S. Gudbjornsdottir and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the Swedish National Diabetes Register and the Scottish Diabetes Research Network Epidemiology Group Development and validation of a cardiovascular risk prediction model in type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia, 64 (9), 2001-2011, 2021
• S.J. McGurnaghan, A. Weir, J. Bishop, S. Kennedy, L.A.K. Blackbourn, D. McAllister, S. Hutchinson, T.M. Caparotta, J. Mellor, A. Jeyam, J.E. O'Reilly, S. Wild, S. Hatam, A. Höhn, M. Colombo, C. Robertson, N. Lone, J. Murray, E. Butterly, J. Petrie, B. Kennon, R. McCrimmon, R. Lindsay, E. Pearson, N. Sattar, J. McKnight, S. Philip, A. Collier, J. McMenamin, A. Smith-Palmer, D. Goldberg, P.M. McKeigue, H.M. Colhoun, Public Health Scotland COVID-19 Health Protection Study Group, Scottish Diabetes Research Network Epidemiology Group Risks of and risk factors for COVID-19 disease and development of a risk prediction model in people with diabetes in Scotland: A cohort study. Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 9 (2), 82-93, 2021
M. Colombo°, A. Asadi Shehni°, I. Thoma, S.J. McGurnaghan, L.A.K. Blackbourn, H. Wilkinson, A. Collier, A.W. Patrick, J.R. Petrie, P.M. McKeigue, R. Saldova and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SDRNT1BIO Investigators Quantitative levels of serum N-glycan in type 1 diabetes and their association with kidney disease. Glycobiology, 31 (5), 613-623, 2021
• M.L. Marcovecchio, M. Colombo, R.N. Dalton, P.M. McKeigue, P. Benitez-Aguirre, F. Cameron, S.T. Chiesa, J. Couper, M. Craig, D. Daneman, E. Davis, J. Deanfield, K. Donaghue, T.W. Jones, F.H. Mahmud, S.M. Marshall, H.A.W. Neil, H.M. Colhoun and D. Dunger Biomarkers associated with early stages of kidney disease in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes, 21 (7), 1322-1332, 2020
• M.C. Barbu, A. Spiliopoulou, M. Colombo, P.M. McKeigue, T.-K. Clarke, D.M. Howard, M.J. Adams, X. Shen, S.M. Lawrie, A.M. McIntosh and H.C. Whalley Expression quantitative trait loci-derived scores and white matter microstructure in UK Biobank: a novel approach to integrating genetics and neuroimaging. Translational Psychiatry, 10, 55, 2020
• M. Colombo, S.J. McGurnaghan, L.A.K. Blackbourn, R.N. Dalton, D. Dunger, S. Bell, J.R. Petrie, F. Green, S. MacRury, J.A. McKnight, A. Collier, P.M. McKeigue and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SDRNT1BIO Investigators Comparison of serum and urinary biomarker panels with albumin/creatinine ratio in the prediction of renal function decline in type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia, 63 (4), 788–798, 2020
• M. Colombo, S.J. McGurnaghan, S. Bell, F. McKenzie, A.W. Patrick, J.R. Petrie, J.A. McKnight, S. MacRury, J. Traynor, W. Metcalfe, P.M. McKeigue and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SDRNT1BIO Investigators Predicting renal disease progression in a large contemporary cohort with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia, 63 (3), 636-647, 2020
• P.M. McKeigue, A. Spiliopoulou, S.J. McGurnaghan, M. Colombo, L.A.K. Blackbourn, T.J. McDonald, S. Onengut-Gomuscu, S.S. Rich, C.N.A. Palmer, J.A. McKnight, M.W.J. Strachan, A.W. Patrick, J. Chalmers, R.S. Lindsay, J.R. Petrie, S. Thekkepat, A. Collier, S. MacRury and H.M. Colhoun Persistent C-peptide secretion in type 1 diabetes and its relationship to the genetic architecture of diabetes. BMC Medicine, 17 (1), 165, 2019
• M. Colombo°, E. Valo°, S.J. McGurnaghan, N. Sandholm, L.A.K. Blackbourn, R.N. Dalton, D. Dunger, P.H. Groop, P.M. McKeigue, C. Forsblom and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SDRNT1BIO Investigators and FinnDiane Study Group Biomarkers associated with progression of renal disease in type 1 diabetes. Diabetologia, 62 (9), 1616-1627, 2019
• A. Spiliopoulou, M. Colombo, D. Plant, J. Cui, M.J.H. Coenen, K. Ikari, H. Yamanaka, S. Saevarsdottir, L. Padyukov, S.L. Bridges Jr, R.P. Kimberly, Y. Okada, P.L.C.M. van Riel, I.E. van der Horst-Bruinsma, N. de Vries, P.P. Tak, K. Ohmura, H. Canhao, K-J. Guchelaar, T.W.J. Huizinga, L.A. Criswell, S. Raychaudhuri, M. Weinblatt, A.G. Wilson, X. Mariette, J. Isaacs, A.W. Morgan, MATURA Consortium, C. Pitzalis, A. Barton and P.M. McKeigue Association of response to TNF inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis with quantitative trait loci for CD40 and CD39. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 78, 1055-1061, 2019
• E.M.A. Hensor, P.M. McKeigue, S.F. Ling, M. Colombo, J.H. Barrett, J.L. Nam, J. Freeston, M.H. Buch, A. Spiliopoulou, F. Agakov, S. Kelly, M.J. Lewis, S.M.M. Verstappen, A.J. MacGregor, S. Viatte, A. Barton, C. Pitzalis, P. Emery, MATURA consortium, IACON consortium, PEAC consortium, P.G. Conaghan and A.W. Morgan Validity of a 2-component imaging-derived disease activity score for improved assessment of synovitis in early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology, 58 (8), 1400-1409, 2019
• M. Colombo°, H.C. Looker°, B. Farran, S. Hess, L. Groop, C.N.A. Palmer, M.J. Brosnan, R.N. Dalton, M. Wong, C. Turner, E. Ahlqvist, D. Dunger, F. Agakov, P. Durrington, S. Livingstone, J. Betteridge, P.M. McKeigue and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SUMMIT investigators Serum kidney injury molecule 1 and beta-2-microglobulin perform as well as larger panels for prediction of rapid decline in renal function in type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 62 (1), 156-168, 2019
• S. Cherlin, D. Plant, J.C. Taylor, M. Colombo, A. Spiliopoulou, E. Tzanis, A.W. Morgan, M.R. Barnes, P.M. McKeigue, J.H. Barrett, C. Pitzalis, A. Barton, MATURA Consortium and H.J. Cordell Prediction of treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis patients using genome-wide SNP data. Genetic Epidemiology, 42, 754-771, 2018
• J. Massey, D. Plant, K. Hyrich, A.W. Morgan, A.G. Wilson, A. Spiliopoulou, M. Colombo, P.M. McKeigue, J. Isaacs, H. Cordell, C. Pitzalis, A. Barton, BRAGGSS, MATURA Consortium Genome-wide association study of response to tumour necrosis factor inhibitor therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. The Pharmacogenomics Journal, 18, 657-664, 2018
• M. Colombo°, H.C. Looker°, B. Farran, F. Agakov, M.J. Brosnan, P. Welsh, N. Sattar, S.J. Livingstone, P.N. Durrington, D.J. Betteridge, P.M. McKeigue and H.M. Colhoun Apolipoprotein CIII and N-terminal prohormone b-type natriuretic peptide as independent predictors for cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. Atherosclerosis, 274, 182-190, 2018
• J.C. Taylor, T. Bongartz, J. Massey, B. Mifsud, A. Spiliopoulou, I.C. Scott, J. Wang, M. Morgan, D. Plant, M. Colombo, P. Orchard, S. Twigg, I.B. McInnes, D. Porter, J.E. Freeston, J.L. Nam, H.J. Cordell, J.D. Isaacs, J.L. Strathdee, D. Arnett, M.J.H. de Hair, P.P. Tak, S. Aslibekyan, R.F. van Vollenhoven, L. Padyukov, S.L. Bridges, C. Pitzalis, A.P. Cope, S.M.M. Verstappen, P. Emery, M.R. Barnes, F. Agakov, P.M. McKeigue, T. Mushiroda, M. Kubo, R. Weinshilboum, A. Barton, A.W. Morgan and J.H. Barrett, on behalf of the MATURA and PAMERA Consortia Genome-wide association study of response to methotrexate in early rheumatoid arthritis patients. The Pharmacogenomics Journal, 18, 528-538, 2018
• M.L. Bermingham°, M. Colombo°, S.J. McGurnaghan, L.A.K. Blackbourn, F. Vučković, M. Pučić Baković, I. Trbojević-Akmačić, G. Lauc, F. Agakov, A. Agakova, C. Hayward, L. Klarić, C.N.A. Palmer, J.R. Petrie, J. Chalmers, A. Collier, F. Green, R.S. Lindsay, S. MacRury, J.A. McKnight, A.W. Patrick, S. Thekkepat, O. Gornik, P.M. McKeigue and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SDRN Type 1 Bioresource Investigators N-glycan profile and kidney disease in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 41 (1), 79-87, 2018
• N. Pirastu, P.K. Joshi, P.S. de Vries, M.C. Cornelis, P.M. McKeigue, N. Keum, N. Franceschini, M. Colombo, E.L. Giovannucci, A. Spiliopoulou, L. Franke, K.E. North, P. Kraft, A.C. Morrison, T. Esku and J.F. Wilson GWAS for male-pattern baldness identifies 71 susceptibility loci explaining 38% of the risk. Nature Communications, 8, 1584, 2017
• J.D. Quell, W. Römisch-Margl, M. Colombo, J. Krumsiek, A.M. Evans, R. Mohney, V. Salomaa, U. de Faire, L.C. Groop, F. Agakov, H.C. Looker, P.M. McKeigue, H.M. Colhoun and G. Kastenmüller Automated pathway and reaction prediction facilitates in silico identification of unknown metabolites in human cohort studies. Journal of Chromatography B, 1071, 58-67, 2017
• A. Spiliopoulou, M. Colombo, P. Orchard, F. Agakov and P.M. McKeigue GeneImp: fast imputation to large reference panels using genotype likelihoods from ultralow coverage sequencing. Genetics, 206 (1), 91-104, 2017
• H.C. Looker°, M. Colombo°, S. Hess, M.J. Brosnan, B. Farran, R.N. Dalton, M.C. Wong, C. Turner, C.N.A. Palmer, E. Nogoceke, L. Groop, V. Salomaa, D.B. Dunger, F. Agakov, P.M. McKeigue and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SUMMIT Investigators Biomarkers of rapid chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes. Kidney International, 88 (4), 888-896, 2015
• H.C. Looker, M. Colombo, F. Agakov, T. Zeller, L. Groop, B. Thorand, C.N. Palmer, A. Hamsten, U. de Faire, E. Nogoceke, S.J. Livingstone, V. Salomaa, K. Leander, N. Barbarini, R. Bellazzi, N. van Zuydam, P.M. McKeigue and H.M. Colhoun, on behalf of the SUMMIT Investigators Protein biomarkers for the prediction of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia, 58 (6), 1363-1371, 2015
• P.M. McKeigue, M. Colombo, F. Agakov, I. Datta, A. Levin, D. Favro, R.R. Burke, C. Gray-Montgomery, M.C. Iannuzzi and B.A. Rybicki Extending admixture mapping to nuclear pedigrees: application to sarcoidosis. Genetic Epidemiology, 37 (3), 256-266, 2013
• M. Colombo and A. Grothey A decomposition-based crash-start method for stochastic programming. Computational Optimization and Applications, 55 (2), 311-340, 2013
• B.A. Rybicki, A.M. Levin, P.M. McKeigue, I. Datta, C. Gray-McGuire, M. Colombo, D. Reich, R.R. Burke and M.C. Iannuzzi A genome-wide admixture scan for ancestry-linked genes predisposing to sarcoidosis in African-Americans. Genes and Immunity, 12 (2), 67-77, 2011
• M. Colombo, J. Gondzio and A. Grothey A warm-start approach for large-scale stochastic linear programs. Mathematical Programming, 127 (2), 371-397, 2011
• M. Colombo, A. Grothey, J. Hogg, K. Woodsend and J. Gondzio A structure-conveying modelling language for mathematical and stochastic programming. Mathematical Programming Computation, 1 (4), 223-247, 2009
• A. Grothey, J. Hogg, K. Woodsend, M. Colombo and J. Gondzio A structure-conveying parallelisable modelling language for mathematical programming. "Parallel Scientific Computing and Optimization", R. Ciegis, D. Henty, B. Kågström, J. Zilinskas (eds.), Springer Optimization and its Applications, 27, 147-158, 2009
• M. Colombo and J. Gondzio Further development of multiple centrality correctors for interior point methods. Computational Optimization and Applications, 41 (3), 277-305, 2008

Software (R packages; non-exhaustive)

• ‘hsstan’ (author), ‘nestfs’ (author), ‘wevid’ (maintainer), ‘projpred’ (contributor), ‘rstantools’ (contributor)