Alexandra Binder: University of California, Los Angeles

There is extensive epidemiologic and experimental evidence linking early life conditions to adult health. Epigenetic modifications are suspected to play a role in mediating these associations by providing a cellular memory of gene regulation shaped by exposures during critical windows of development. In this lecture, I will discuss some of my research into the relationships between epigenetic patterns and early life predictors of adult disease susceptibility. I will highlight our recent investigations into specific patterns of DNA methylation that influence pubertal development among a longitudinal cohort of girls in Santiago, Chile. More generally, I will detail salient methodological considerations for identifying determinants of epigenetic variation in observational human studies. I will also outline generalizability and reproducibility concerns within the field of epigenetic epidemiology, and how these considerations should inform study design and the discussion of study implications.