Epigenetic modifications are processes that can cause heritable phenotypic changes without altering the genetic code. The Carless lab is interested in identifying such modifications that are associated with complex diseases. 

Our goal is to understand how these might contribute to disease risk and be leveraged as potential novel therapies. To accomplish this, our lab combines human, animal, and cell-based systems. We investigate epigenetic mechanisms underlying neurological, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders, such as epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as metabolism and metabolic disorders, such as obesity and diabetes. 

The overarching goal of the Carless lab is to understand the role of epigenetic mechanisms in complex diseases.