Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease, Mitochondrial DNA, Computational Genomics, Epigenomics, Transcriptomics, Complex Disease, Gene-Environment Interactions, Bioinformatics

Description of Research Activities: The Castellani Lab is interested in the contribution of mitochondrial nuclear multiomic signalling to cardiovascular disease. We use both bioinformatic and cell culture approaches to assess the dynamic relationships between mitochondria quality/quantity and nuclear DNA at the level of the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, metabolome and proteome. The lab is specifically focused on: 1. Integration across large-scale multiomic datasets to determine the dynamic relationship of mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN), heteroplasmy and nuclear epigenomic/transcriptomic patterns in cardiovascular disease, 2. Implementing and developing models that modify mtDNA-CN and heteroplasmy in culture to uncover mechanisms behind mitochondrial and nuclear cross-talk contributing to cardiovascular disease, and 3. Assessing the impact of environmental stimuli on mitochondrial DNA signalling to nuclear DNA and its impact on health and disease.