My research team studies fundamental processes that regulate access of genetic information encoded in our DNA.  We focus on histone proteins, exploring how chromatin—formed when DNA coils around histones into distinct structures along the genome—modulates the accessibility of the underlying sequence information.  Functioning like the Google search engine for our genome, chromatin guides sequence-specific factors to their target sites more efficiently amidst a sea of distracting information.  By modulating the position, composition, and stability of histone-DNA complexes, chromatin structures block non-physiological binding sites and direct sequence-specific factors to designated targets, thereby facilitating their precise cellular functions.  We employ a diverse array of techniques, spanning biochemistry, genetics, genomics, computational biology, and structural biology, to unravel the principles governing chromatin regulation and their impact on gene expression and human health.