Prof. Champagne’s main research interest concerns how genetic and environmental factors interact to regulate maternal behavior, and how natural variations in this behavior can shape the behavioral development of offspring through epigenetic changes in gene expression in a brain region specific manner.
Prof. Champagne’s current and future research will focus on 1) investigating the epigenetic mechanisms via which individual variation in reproductive and social behavior can be induced via variation in early life experiences (prenatal and postnatal), 2) investigating the epigenetic mechanisms via which offspring may overcome or be resilient to such early life experiences, 3) exploration of the interplay between mothers and fathers in offspring development and 4) determine the transgenerational effects of early life experiences.