Our research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind epigenetic regulation and inheritance. We focus on how environmental factors encountered during an organism’s lifetime can influence gene expression—and how these changes can be passed on to future generations. This challenges traditional genetic paradigms and opens new avenues for understanding heredity.
Our work has broad societal implications, including insights into aging, viral resistance, and agricultural sustainability. By studying gene regulation in model organisms and pests, we contribute to strategies for improving health, managing disease, and controlling invasive species.
We investigate how chromatin and small RNAs mediate gene expression in response to environmental cues, and how these changes are inherited across generations (transgenerational epigenetic inheritance). We are particularly interested in how chromatin and small RNA pathways intersect. Our primary model is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
In addition to investigating small RNAs in the context of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, the Ashe lab explores the role of small RNAs in regulating gene expression and defending against viral infections. We study these mechanisms in C. elegans, honey bees and their parasitic mite Varroa destructor, and mammals to understand species-specific antiviral responses. All our honeybee work is carried out with collaborator Dr Emily Remnant, and the mammalian infection work is in collaboration with Professor Angelo Izzo.
We use C. elegans to study complex biological processes such as circannual reproduction (collaboration with Professor Claire Wade) and insulin signaling (collaboration with Professor Carsten Schmitz-Peiffer and Associate Professor Alastair Senior). Using C. elegans for this work enables high-throughput genetic screening and precise manipulation of gene function.
March 2026
Congratulations to Jess Hawes for the publication of her perspective piece in Frontiers in Epigenetics and Epigenomics. This interesting article highlights the pioneering work of Professor Emma Whitelaw (who was Alyson’s PhD supervisor) in the field of epigenetic inheritance.
Congratulations also to Jess for winning a student poster prize at the 2026 Lorne Genome conference with her beautiful and extremely well-presented poster. Thoroughly deserved.
September 2025
Congratulations to PhD student Lottie Wills, who won a poster prize at the recent Epigenetics Gordon Research Conference 2025 (Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain). There was a lot of competition for these poster prizes, with many amazing posters on display from postdocs and students – Lottie did a fabulous job presenting her poster and was a very worthy winner! Here she is being congratulated by Prof Hiten Madhani (Vice Chair of the conference).
August 2025
Congratulations to all – especially joint first authors, Rachel and Natalya, on the publication of their paper, A unified framework governing the establishment and maintenance of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, in Genetics! This paper has been a long time coming and was a real team effort to get it over the line, but it was worth the wait. Well done!
For any enquiries, please contact Associate Professor Alyson Ashe at alyson.ashe@sydney.edu.au.
