Sarah Merrill, PhD
Sarah M. Merrill’s research centers on the biological embedding of early social environments and experiences through epigenetic mechanisms, with a particular focus on DNA methylation. Guided by a biopsychosocial perspective and interdisciplinary approaches, her work aims to enhance our understanding of how social experiences influence biology and health across the lifespan, and how psychosocial interventions may modulate these effects. Her research delves into social epigenetics, examining the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis to explore how early life experiences impact later health outcomes. She investigates the role of DNA methylation in response to early adversity, particularly how trauma-informed interventions can alter these molecular processes in vulnerable populations. Sarah also contributes to the emerging field of biomarker development, exploring the utility of epigenetic age estimation and its implications for diverse populations. Furthermore, her work emphasizes methodological rigor in pediatric DNA methylation research, ensuring that the field evolves with robust and sensitive practices. Her research has been supported by major funding bodies, including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Email: sarah_merrill@uml.edu