Charis Himeda

Charis Himeda is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her work focuses on the epigenetic regulation of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), specifically targeting the DUX4 gene misexpression in skeletal muscle.

• Education:
  • B.S. and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington

Her research leverages CRISPR/dCas9 technology to develop therapeutic strategies for FSHD by identifying and repressing epigenetic activators. She pioneered the use of CRISPR inhibition to suppress DUX4 expression, aiming to translate this into clinical gene therapy.

Key trends in her peer-reviewed publications include studies on:

• CRISPR-based gene repression in FSHD
• Epigenetic mechanisms in muscle diseases
• Myogenic enhancers and transcriptional regulation
• Optimization of tissue-specific regulatory elements

She collaborates with researchers like Peter and Takako Jones on FSHD pathology and therapeutic innovation.