Candace Lewis
-
Mail code: 4501Campus: Tempe
-
Candace Lewis is an assistant professor with a dual appointment in the School of Life Sciences and Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on the impact of early life social experiences on epigenetic regulation of gene systems involved in mental health; the relationships between peripheral epigenetics and brain structure, function, microbiome composition and behavior; and the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy to reduce symptoms through psychological healing and epigenetic alterations. Lewis has been funded by the Science Foundation Arizona, Fulbright Association and the National Institutes of Health (specifically, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Program, and the National Institute on Aging).
- Ph.D. Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Arizona State University
- M.C. Counseling, Arizona State University
- M.A. Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, Arizona State University
- B.A. Psychology, University of Alaska, Anchorage
The majority of psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders have a complex etiology, meaning they have both genetic and environmental risk factors. This simple understanding demands an integration of exposure and molecular biology research. Behavioral epigenetics is uncovering an experience-dependent epigenome framework underlying vulnerability to brain-based illness. Our research focuses on social stress exposures and how these experiences can shape dynamic regulation of gene systems underlying cognitive, emotional, and behavioral health through development. Our lab has used both animal and twin models to investigate the influence of early life experiences on DNA methylation of gene systems involved in addiction, cognition, stress, and immune function. Our current studies funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development are expanding on this research by investigating the relationships between early life stress, gut microbiome composition, and their potential influences on host epigenome and behavior in children. Our lab is also interested in the brain, behavioral, and potential epigenetic pathways of psychedelic-assisted therapy, an experience-based intervention for depression and PTSD. Lastly, we are currently working on a grant from NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) which investigates if the peripheral transcriptome sequenced from dried blood spots tracks with myelination and cognitive maturation through infancy. Brain health can now be conceptualized as a multifaceted interplay of both genetic and environmental influences; the epigenome may be a critical player in the functional consequences of these interactions. The overarching goals of this lab are to understand the modifiable epigenome in order to inform etiology, prevention, and treatment efforts to increase quality of life for those with psychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Lewis, C. R., et al., Huentelman, M. J., Lemery-Chalfant, K., Highlander, S.K., Deoni, S.C.L, Klepac- Ceraj, V. (2021) Family SES is Associated with the Gut Microbiome in Infants and Children. Microorganisms
Lewis, C. R., Sowards, H. A., Huentelman, M. J., Doane, L. D., Lemery-Chalfant, K (2020). Epigenetic differences in inflammation genes of monozygotic twins are related to parental emotional availability and health. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity Health
Lewis, C. R., Breitenstein, R. S., Henderson, A., Sowards, H. A., Piras, Ignazio. S., Huentelman, M. J., Doane, L. D., Lemery-Chalfant, K (2020). Harsh parenting predicts novel HPA receptor gene methylation and NR3C1 methylation predicts cortisol daily slope in middle childhood. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
Lewis, C. R., Preller, K. H., Braden, B. B., Riecken, C. Vollenweider, F. X. (2020). Rostral anterior cingulate thickness predicts the emotional psilocybin. Biomedicines
Lewis, C. R., Henderson-Smith, A., Breitenstein, R. S., Sowards, H. A., Piras, Ignazio. S., Huentelman, M. J., Doane, L. D., Lemery-Chalfant, K. (2019). Dopaminergic gene methylation is associated with cognitive performance in a childhood monozygotic twin study. Epigenetics
Lewis, C. R., Preller, K. H., Kraehenmann, R., Michels, L., Stämpfli, P., and Vollenweider, F. X. (2017). Two dose investigation of the 5-HT-agonist psilocybin on relative and global cerebral blood flow. Neuroimage
Lewis, C. R. and Olive, M. F. (2014). Early life stress interactions with the genome: potential mechanisms driving vulnerability towards psychiatric illness. Behavioural Pharmacology, 25, 341-51.
Courses
2024 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
PSY 792 | Research |
2024 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
MIC 495 | Undergraduate Research |
PSY 790 | Reading and Conference |
PSY 792 | Research |
PSY 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
BIO 496 | Undergraduate Thesis |
NEU 492 | Honors Directed Study |
2023 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
MIC 495 | Undergraduate Research |
PSY 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
BIO 467 | Neurobiology |
NEU 492 | Honors Directed Study |
NEU 493 | Honors Thesis |
2023 Summer
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
PSY 792 | Research |
2023 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
PSY 599 | Thesis |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
2022 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
BIO 467 | Neurobiology |
2022 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
NEU 591 | Seminar |
2021 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |