Dr. Besaratinia’s research focuses on the molecular causes and mechanistic underpinning of human disease. His laboratory investigates the role of genetics and epigenetics in the development of a wide variety of diseases, including cancer at multiple organ sites, cardiovascular-, respiratory-, immune-related (inflammatory), and metabolic diseases. Emphasis is placed on genetic mechanisms, such as DNA damage & repair and mutagenesis, and epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA dysregulation. Of special interest are chronic diseases with modifiable risk factors, including lifestyle, diet, and occupational/medicinal/environmental determinants. A primary area of research is tobacco-related diseases in connection to the use of new and emerging tobacco products, specifically electronic cigarettes (vapes). Dr. Besaratinia’s group conducts human subject research involving the general population, at-risk populations, disease cohorts, or clinical trials, complemented with experimental studies in laboratory animals and cell culture models. His team uses a combination of classic molecular biology techniques and cutting-edge ‘omics’ technologies to detect alterations in the genome, epigenome, and transcriptome in human cells and tissues, or laboratory mice and cell cultures treated with known or suspected disease-causing agents. Systems biology approaches are then deployed to integrate the results in order to elucidate how the interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic changes contributes to the development of diseases. The ultimate goal is to develop molecular markers, otherwise known as ‘biomarkers’, that can be used for prevention, early detection, treatment, and monitoring of the progression of diseases.