University of Alabama at Birmingham · PsychologyEarly Life Stress and Health Outcomes Unit
Sylvie Mrug · Birmingham, Alabama
Research Focus
Dr. Sylvie Mrug's lab at the University of Alabama at Birmingham focuses on understanding how early life stress impacts health outcomes across different age groups, particularly in Black populations. The research examines the biological mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, that may contribute to chronic diseases and health disparities. By studying individuals from early childhood to young adulthood, the lab aims to identify protective factors that can mitigate these effects and potentially improve health outcomes.
DNA MethylationHealth DisparitiesChronic DiseasePsychosocial StressProtective FactorsAdolescenceEpigeneticsCardiometabolic HealthRaceLongitudinal Studies
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the impact of early life stress on DNA methylation patterns.
AIM 02Analyze the relationship between DNA methylation and chronic disease markers.
AIM 03Identify protective factors that can lessen the impact of early life stress.
AIM 04Examine racial disparities in stress-related health outcomes.
AIM 05Explore how various developmental stages influence health disparities.
Skills the Lab Values
DNA extractionMethylation analysisSaliva collectionHealth assessmentsStatistical analysisLongitudinal study designBioinformaticsSurvey administrationData collectionCommunity engagement
Output against the department
Publications218top 30% of dept.90th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.3ktop 43% of dept.126th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.