Raquel Ordonez Ciriza, PhD

All cells in your body contain the same genetic information, yet they specialize into different cell types through the selective activation of a subset of specific genes in your DNA. This precise regulation of gene activity is key to proper organ formation, tissue repair, and the body’s ability to adapt to changes. My research focuses on understanding how these genetic "switches"—known as regulatory DNA—work, and how alterations in their sequence can impact health, disease, and evolution.

To investigate this, I create synthetic versions of these regulatory DNA sequences, which range from hundreds of base pairs to over 200 kilobases in length. These synthetic sequences are then inserted into disease-relevant loci in mammalian genomes using advanced genome engineering techniques. We analyze the phenotypic effects of these modifications to explore how different regulatory elements interact and influence gene activity. This helps us understand how genetic changes in regulatory DNA contribute to common traits and diseases. Ultimately, my goal is to uncover the fundamental principles of gene regulation and explore ways to manipulate these processes for therapeutic purposes.