Molecular Genetics and Genomics

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

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
We use both mouse models and patient samples of acute myloid leukemia to understand leukemogenesis and to identify novel therapeutic targets.

Key words

Program affiliation
Computational and Systems Biology
Immunology
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science

Research summary
My research interests lie in integrating and applying novel computational biology techniques with mechanistic experimental immunology to understand drivers of response and resistance to NK cell therapies for cancer

Key words
natural killer cells, computational biology, single-cell sequencing, immunotherapy, nk cells

Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology

Research summary
Exploration of functions for neuron-specific regulators of gene expression, leveraging genes and mechanisms implicated in human neurologic disease to point us toward critical pathways in the brain.

Key words
Epigenetics, Neurodevelopment, Rett syndrome, non-CpG DNA methylation, Transcription, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodevelopmental disease

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

Research summary
Skeletal growth and regeneration in zebrafish

Key words
development, genetics, growth, regeneration, skeleton, bone, zebrafish

Program affiliation
Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Cancer Biology

Research summary

Key words

Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
Metabolism of cancer, targeting tumor metabolism by blocking metabolic pathways

Key words

Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Research summary
The etiology of mutagenesis and genome instability in pediatric cancers

Key words
leukemia, pediatric cancer, DNA damage, DNA replication, hematopoiesis

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

Research summary
Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of epigenetics and how when this goes awry diseases arise

Key words
Epigenetics, Transgenerational, Imprinting, Evolution, Multicellularity, Cancer, Tumorigenesis, Epitranscriptomics