Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
The genetics of bleeding and thrombotic disorders and mechanisms of platelet activation

Key words

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Neurosciences

Research summary
Developing therapies and studying the impact of lysosomal storage disorders in animal models and in trials

Key words

Program affiliation
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology

Research summary
Cancer Proteogenomics and Cancer Models

Key words

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics

Research summary
Human Psychiatric Genetics, Mouse Models, Cell Type Specific Gene Expression Profiling, Translation, Astrocytes.

Key words
autism, gene expression profiling, genetics, genomics, mouse models, neurobiology, astrocytes, translation regulation

Program affiliation
Human and Statistical Genetics
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology

Research summary
Identifying preventive strategies to reduce cancer disparities

Key words

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics
Plant and Microbial Biosciences

Research summary
Our lab studies hair-like structures on the surface of cells called cilia that act like antennas to process signals essential for development and survival, and beat in rhythmic fashion to remove potentially harmful pathogens. The malfunctioning of cilia or the structure that anchors them to cells – called the basal body – can contribute to the development of chronic kidney and lung diseases, congenital heart defects and other health problems. We have identified numerous genes required for the assembly and proper functioning of cilia in the green alga Chlamydomonas, a model organism, and their counterparts in humans. In collaboration with colleagues at WashU Medicine, we have analyzed the structure of cilia to obtain atomic resolution of many protein complexes. These studies have laid a foundation for improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ciliopathies, including those with polycystic kidney disease, which currently is treated with dialysis; primary ciliary dyskinesia, which causes chronic lung disease, misplaced organs and infertility; Bardet-Biedl syndrome, which leads to blindness in childhood and diabetes, kidney disease and extreme obesity; and many congenital heart defects, which occur when left-right asymmetry goes awry and require complex surgeries to repair

Key words
centrioles, cilia, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, lung disease

Program affiliation
Immunology
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Immune cell development and function

Key words
dendritic cells, macrophages, hematopoiesis, infection, inflammation, innate immunity, autoimmunity, multiple sclerosis

Program affiliation
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Human and Statistical Genetics

Research summary
We develop new computational and experimental approaches to understand the roles of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in neurodevelopment and cancer

Key words
bioinformatics, cancer, cancer genomics, epigenetics, epigenomics, neurodevelopment, transcriptional regulation

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
We aim to understand how metabolism influences epigenetics, gene expression and behavior, particularly in the context of substance use disorders and neurodegeneration

Key words
Metabolism, epigenetics, alcohol, addiction, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s

Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Our lab studies how disease-associated histone mutations disrupt chromatin and epigenetic regulation, contributing to developmental disorders, brain inflammation, and cancer. We take a multidisciplinary approach that combines biochemical and genomic assays, molecular genetics, cell biology, and both Drosophila and mouse models to investigate how these mutations impair development and drive tumorigenesis. Current projects focus on neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer-associated histone mutations, chromatin–immune crosstalk, and the discovery of chromatin-associated factors. Through this work, we aim to uncover fundamental mechanisms of chromatin dysregulation and identify new therapeutic targets.

Key words
Chromatin, Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Cancer, Developmental Disorders, Brain Inflammation