Prof. Olivia Corradin

Professor Corradin investigates gene variants, small differences in DNA sequence, which can prompt disease-causing changes in gene regulation. During her nearly five years as a Whitehead Fellow, her lab defined the concept of “outside variants,” which helps to explain how genetic variants increase one’s likelihood of developing disease. She also developed a method to identify the cell type affected by a specific disease-linked variant; and then used it to single out oligodendrocytes as one type of brain cell involved in multiple sclerosis. Most recently, Corradin created an approach for defining epigenetic variation -- which is caused by factors other than DNA sequence changes -- in some individuals with opioid use disorder; this will help researchers’ identify genes associated with the disorder.

Corradin focuses on non-coding DNA variants -- changes in DNA sequence that can alter the regulation of gene expression -- to gain insight into pathogenesis. With her novel outside-variant approach, Corradin’s lab singled out a type of brain cell involved in multiple sclerosis, increasing total heritability identified by three- to five-fold. She also scrutinizes how genetic and epigenetic variation influence susceptibility to substance abuse disorders.