About the McGraw Lab

We are a developmental biology, stem cell, and epigenetics laboratory based at the Azrieli Research Center of CHU Sainte-Justine and affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at Université de Montréal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada).

The McGraw Lab welcomes Master’s and PhD students from the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Sciences programs.

We are interested in the epigenetic mechanisms that govern embryonic and brain development, and how their dysregulation contributes to the emergence of (neuro)developmental disorders. We investigate how epigenetic errors, whether inherited, environmentally induced, or caused by genetic mutations, disrupt early embryonic programs and alter developmental trajectories during cell differentiation.

Our program is structured around three main research axes:

1. Impact of epigenetic dysregulation on cell fate

2. Epigenetics and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

3. Epigenetics and neurodevelopmental disorders

Our lab is recognized for its expertise in developmental epigenetics as applied to (neuro)developmental disorders. Using mouse models, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), as well as human neurons and cortical organoids, we take an integrative approach that combines genetics, epigenomics, bioinformatics, and functional analyses to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying these conditions.

We specialize in profiling epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and transcriptomics, both bulk and single-cell, using next-generation sequencing technologies. In parallel, we employ imaging and behavioral analysis in animal models to deepen our understanding of brain structure and function.

Our ultimate goal is to uncover the mechanisms driving epigenetic dysregulation, identify novel therapeutic targets, and contribute to the development of personalized epigenetic therapies for children affected by developmental disorders.