Dr. Petrin’s research focuses on craniofacial birth defects, with a primary focus on the genetics and epigenetics of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate. Her main project investigates the role of DNA methylation in the etiology of orofacial clefts using a distinct cohort of monozygotic twins and sibling pairs discordant for clefting. The project’s main goal is to combine epigenetic and genetic approaches to better understand how the epigenome influences the molecular basis of craniofacial defects.