What we research
1- Sun exposure and human health.
We are investigating several topics within this theme, including
a. the relationship of pigmentation traits (i.e. skin, hair and eye colour, and tanning ability) with sun exposure preferences and practices
b. the effects of sun exposure on dermatological traits (e.g. presence of naevi and freckles), biomarker circulating levels (vitamin D and serum folate) and disease (skin cancer and other conditions that may be positively or negatively affected by sunlight)
c. anthropometric, socioeconomic, cultural, mental health-related, and behavioural traits as determinants of sun exposure habits
d. genetic and epigenetic factors associated with sun exposure
e. tanning addiction, its predictors and outcomes
f. parental influence on children’s sun exposure
The role of DNA methylation as a potential mediator of genetic risk in skin cancer (EUROSKIN, 2021)
2- The causal effects of modifiable environmental and lifestyle exposures on disease risk and other phenotypes using genetically-informed methods, particularly Mendelian randomization.
3- The genetic background of admixed populations and its relationship with disease risk.
4- Genetic risk and prognostic factors for cancer.
Cancers that we work on are: breast, colorectal, prostate and skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer).
