Social Genomics

Nearly all human diseases are influenced by complex interactions between inherent genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental factors (e.g., low socioeconomic status, racial discrimination, and air pollution). Traditional approaches for investigating disease etiology that focus on evaluating genetic and environmental factors independently of one another may fail to identify important context-dependent risk factors for disease, as well as key biological pathways that mediate the effects of exposures on disease outcomes. In light of this, integrative approaches combining genomic and environmental exposure data will help identify people that are particularly susceptible to disease as a result of environmental insult. This insight may lead to improved prevention, intervention, and treatment of complex human diseases.

CSEPH faculty are currently investigating cutting-edge research questions in social genomics including: How do socioeconomic and place-based factors interact with genetic variation to influence later-life cognition and cardiovascular disease?, How do childhood and adult socioeconomic factors influence epigenetic aging , and do these methylation changes impact risk for adult-onset diseases?, Does differential DNA methylation play a role in racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality?, Does the social influence on epigenetic patterning differ across countries? CSEPH faculty are also involved in developing innovative methods for analyzing multi-omic data (genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic) and its mediating effects of the social environment on health.