Our lab explores how environmental cues influence epigenetic regulation in eukaryotic cells, investigating how external signals influence gene expression through epigenetic modifications. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications (PTMs), transcriptomics, and proteogenomics, we aim to uncover fundamental mechanisms that can inform novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases and other human disorders.

During my postdoctoral research at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, I studied histone modifications and epigenetic regulation in Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for severe malaria. My work revealed that lysine lactylation, a novel epigenetic modification, responds to environmental lactate levels and modulates expression of key parasitic genes. This finding underscores the impact of host metabolic status on the parasite’s epigenetic landscape in severe malaria, particularly in the context of lactic acidosis.

Our lab takes a systems biology approach to understanding how metabolic intermediates regulate cellular signaling, influence chromatin architecture, and drive gene expression. By integrating cutting-edge mass spectrometry, functional genomics, and molecular biology, we seek to map these regulatory networks and their implications for disease progression.

We welcome collaborations across disciplines and invite researchers interested in proteomics, PTMs, epigenetics, and host-pathogen interactions to connect with us. If you're interested in working together, feel free to reach out!