In this virtual discussion, five researchers who are experts in the field of “epigenetics and environmental stressors” explain how social determinants can affect the resulting health outcomes of individuals as well as health outcomes of future generations. They will use stories and explanations to help people understand this emerging scientific field. 

Health science professionals study how a person's biology and other determinants such as where they live or access to resources impact their health now and in the future. Racism, poverty, lack of healthy food, exposure to chemicals, and environmental stress are all problems that are deeply rooted in communities and can impact the ability of genes to be active or not (called epigenetics), without changing the DNA sequence determined at birth (heredity). These epigenetic changes can persist after the exposure has stopped to cause long-lasting effects on development and health, sometimes even in subsequent generations.

This epigenetic program is designed for people from many different professions including social workers, lawyers, public health workers, and medical providers, who will be able to utilize their expertise in helping to find solutions to these issues. It is also designed for students and the broader community who are interested in learning more about epigenetics and health disparities. 

Everyone is welcome to attend, regardless of their level of knowledge. 

Moderators:

  • Nesta Bortey-Sam, PhD, Environmental Toxicologist and Assistant Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health
  • Wan-Yee Tang, PhD, Epigeneticist and Associate Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health

Drs. Tang and Bortey-Sam's research investigates how environmental factors such as chemicals and pollution can alter gene activity and the implications this exposure has on a person's health outcomes.

Guest Speakers:

  • Shirley Hill, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Hill's research has focused on substance use disorders (SUD) with emphasis on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that may generate transmission of SUD across generations. Having collected longitudinal data on off-spring from families with and without family members with alcohol use disorder, she has examined childhood adversity and its impact on stress pathway genes that may lead to disadvantaged health outcomes.

  • Alika Maunakea, PhD, Associate Professor, Institute for Biogenetics Research Jon A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa

Dr. Maunakea established and oversees the Epigenetic Core Facility of Hawaiʻi, the state's only next-generation sequencing service thar integrates technology with epigenomic-wide data of DNA methylation, chromatin structure, historic modifications, and transcriptomic analytics, and bacteria metagenomics microbiome research. In his work, Dr. Maunakea applies epigenomic information toward understanding the mechanic relationships of gene-environment interactions that underlie the development of diseases of health disparities as well as promotes diversity in the research workforce.

  • Xiaoban Wang, MD, ScD, MPH, Zanvyl Krieger Professor in Children’s Health Director, Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Professor of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Dr. Wang, who has devoted her entire career to improving maternal and child health across the life course in diverse populations, has served as the PI of a dozen NIH funded large-scale molecular epidemiological studies and led multi-institution teams to investigate environmental, nutritional, genomic, epigenomic, pentomic, and metabolomic factors during critical developmental windows aiming to identify early life origins of major pediatric and adult chronic diseases to inform early risk assessment and primary prevention.

 

 

 

Event Details

Please let us know if you require an accommodation in order to participate in this event. Accommodations may include live captioning, ASL interpreters, and/or captioned media and accessible documents from recorded events. At least 5 days in advance is recommended.


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