Cancer and other genetic diseases are not only driven by genetic alterations of the DNA sequence, but also by epigenetic changes- chemical modifications on top of the DNA and the nucleosomes around which the DNA is wrapped. We now know quite well how genetic alterations of genes drive disease, thanks to extensive mapping efforts. However, we still know very little about the function of epigenetic alterations, especially at regulatory regions away from genes. These regulatory regions control gene expression, splicing, DNA replication, and intra-chromosomal interactions, and therefore have a profound impact on the function of cells in health and disease.

At the Drier lab at the Lautenberg center for immunology and cancer research, we aim to uncover the role of non-genic regulatory elements and how their disruption drives cancer and other genetic diseases. This allows us to both elucidate basic mechanisms of regulation of chromosomal interactions, DNA replication, splicing and gene expression, as well as to characterize their disruption in disease and their role in disease initiation and progression. We then aim to leverage this knowledge to predict novel therapeutic targets for the development of new drugs and develop models to better predict patient outcomes to help guide treatment plans for patients.

Our scientific approach combines epigenetic profiling, development of computational models and algorithms, and experimental validation. We combine cutting edge experimental techniques with developing new machine learning algorithms and big-data analytical approaches.