Understanding How Social Drivers Affect Health Through Epigenetics

Mindy Szeto is a PhD student in the Health Sciences Integrated Program (HSIP) at Feinberg in the Health and Biomedical Informatics (HBMI) track. She conducted research in math modeling, protein engineering, and bioinformatics at the University of Washington, University of Colorado and Johns Hopkins University before coming to Northwestern.  

Leveraging her experience leading genetic epidemiology studies of complex diseases in large population-based cohorts, Szeto works with Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, adjunct professor and former Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine. Szeto is currently analyzing early life social and environmental exposures and epigenetic mediators contributing to cardiovascular disease risk.   

Where is your hometown?    

I was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up hiking and fishing in the Pacific Northwest.   

What sparked your interest in science or medicine?       

As a curious kid, I was always taking apart calculators, computers, and various household items to learn more about how things worked. I ended up going to college early and fell in love with research. Especially compelling was the opportunity to use innovative methods and quantitative data to tackle challenging problems such as predicting brain tumor treatment response, or engineering gene editing therapies that were personalized for each patient. I also connected with so many people who were experiencing the real-world benefits of my research, and I wanted to continue making a positive impact on human health. 

What are your research interests?        

I’ve become very interested in epigenetics – how reversible changes such as DNA methylation can influence how genes are turned on or off, without altering the genetic code itself. It’s an exciting new frontier in medicine because epigenetics can capture how our environment and life experiences (for example, stress, nutrition, or pollution) can "get under the skin" and affect future health outcomes at a molecular level. Epigenetic aging is particularly interesting; we can calculate a biological age for every individual from their DNA methylation patterns, and if it’s higher than their actual age, they may be at increased risk for chronic diseases and early mortality.   

What are you currently working on?        

My latest publication showed that financial hardship, food insecurity, and lower educational attainment were associated with higher risk of developing hypertension over 20 years in the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study, with epigenetic aging accounting for up to a third of these associations. This suggests that early life exposures may increase cardiovascular disease risk through epigenetic mechanisms, encouraging early intervention and primordial prevention. In finishing my dissertation work, I’ve also used machine learning methods to develop novel DNA methylation-based risk scores for obesity and diabetes.  

Please tell us about a defining moment in your education at Feinberg thus far.      

Being awarded an F31 fellowship from the NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The grant supported my work with the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), one of the most comprehensive and longest-running United States birth cohorts uniquely collecting rich multi-generational data from birth through young adulthood. In conjunction with an incredible mentorship team, the F31 provided the structure and momentum for me to grow in independence.  

What do you hope to do with your degree?    

I'm searching for a tenure-track faculty position. A good mix of research, teaching and mentoring would be the dream – but I’m looking forward to exploring other opportunities as well.