I work on the evolution of species interactions in plants and insects, and the evolution and genomics of pregnancy in mammals. I integrate diverse approaches, from molecular biology to ecology.

The Aldrich Lab uses epidemiologic study design, statistical analysis, and data science methods to (1) understand genetic and non-genetic factors contributing to lung cancer and (2) address lung cancer screening access. We conduct collaborative and cutting-edge genetic epidemiologic research to inform the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer.

Our lab studies reproductive immunology with a focus on bacterial infections that complicate pregnancy. We primarily examine host-microbe interactions in the pathogenesis of chorioamnionitis, a major cause of preterm birth and stillbirth. Group B Streptococcus is the primary pathogen our lab studies. Join us!

Our research focuses on the use of functional genomic and epigenetic approaches to understand gene regulation. Our interests range from detailed mechanistic studies of the interferon-gamma gene, a key cytokine produced by cells of the innate and adaptive immune system, to the use of these approaches to gain new insights into human disease. In addition, we have begun to focus our attention on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and other species of RNAs that do not code for proteins. We have developed model organisms, computational and analytic pipelines to dissect enhancer function and functions of these newly identified RNA species in biologic systems.

The Vanderbilt Laboratory for Biosynthetic Studies (Bachmann, P.I.) studies and harnesses the biosynthetic capabilities of living systems in order to radically accelerate the discovery of new bioactive compounds and revolutionize how molecules are synthesized. By studying pathways and enzymes involved in secondary metabolism, we create new biochemical knowledge, and apply it toward the generation of new bioactive molecules. Our precision-medicine drug discovery subgroup uses a single cell chemical biology paradigm on patient-derived cells to drive the discovery of secondary metabolites as cures for cancer.