Dr. Provençal’s research group aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of how early life environmental exposures influence the development of an individual leading to disease versus health. The laboratory uses a translational approach to study the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the long-lasting effects of early life adversities and their impact on the developmental trajectories of behavioral and stress-related disorders. Research in the lab combines multi-omic data analysis from cellular and animal models, where we can study in depth the molecular mechanisms at play, as well as multiple longitudinal and cross-sectional cohorts to translate these findings to patients exposed to early life adversities. The exchange between different fields of study is essential to shed light on different aspects of the development of complex diseases and give rise to new approaches and methods to tackle the mechanisms involved. To this end, research in the lab integrates knowledge and expertise from multiple fields including epigenetics, genetics, bioinformatics, statistics and clinical research.
