We study the genomic and epigenomic drivers of brain aging and neurodegeneration

Research Vision

The brain comprises several specialized cell types, some of which, like neurons and oligodendrocytes, can live for decades or as long as the organism itself. This longevity brings the challenge of maintaining their genomic and epigenomic integrity to preserve cellular function. Our lab investigates the organization of the genome and epigenome in brain cells, focusing on the molecular changes that drive brain aging and neurodegeneration.

Our goal is to understand how alterations in the genetic material and its regulation at the molecular level contribute to functional changes in brain aging and age-related neurological diseases at cellular and organismal scales. To achieve this, we investigate the genome from the linear sequence level to the large-scale 3D architecture of the genome, including enhancer-promoter interactions that regulate gene expression. Within this framework, our immediate focus is on how DNA damage accumulation in aging and neurological diseases disrupts genome organization and integrity. By establishing cause-effect relationships in these processes, we aim to uncover new therapeutic targets to mitigate or reverse brain aging and age-related neurological diseases.