Research
Deciphering the rules of epigenetic memory
Cells and tissues are shaped by the events of their past. They encode a “memory” of events and exposures within their epigenomes that propagates through proliferation and differentiation via non-genetic mechanisms.
This phenomenon of cellular memory has classically been described as adaptive - enabling stronger secondary immune responses and healing of wounds. However, we found in recent work that epigenetic memory can be pathologic and increase risk of disease. Even when looking normal to the eye, colonic tissue that held memory of past inflammation and damage experienced accelerated tumor growth and increased susceptibility to cancer.
We are now working to understand the complexities of epigenetic memory. Are all exposures capable of creating epigenetic memory? How does memory accumulate across a lifetime? Can epigenetic memory be erased to reduce an individual’s disease risk?
Tracing the epigenetic origins of disease
An individual’s health is shaped by their environment. The exposures and experiences we have today can increase or decrease our risk of developing disease years later. These concepts have taken center stage in recent years, as people are tracking their lifestyle more than ever before and a rise of cancer in young adults across the world appears intimately linked to a changing environment.