Darlene D. Francis

Research Bio

Darlene Francis's research program explores how biological, psychological and social processes interact over a lifetime to influence health and vulnerability to disease. Her laboratory explores how these processes are causally related. The historic belief that information only flows in one direction, from the genome, is simply incorrect. The research demonstrates that genetically identical organisms can manifest dramatically different phenotypic profiles in response to different environmental and social conditions. The research is focused on exploring how social inequalities in health come to be. Francis optimistically focuses on identifying opportunities for intervention. This level of transdisciplinary research can only be conducted with multiple collaborations that span many disciplines (molecular epigenetics through to social epidemiology). In sum, her research explores how experience and social factors are transduced into biology.

Research Expertise and Interest

biological basis of health disparities, developmental programming, stress, environment x gene interactions, animal models, biopsychosocial approach to health and well-being

In the News

Race, the power of an illusion

Scientists in the United States spent centuries attempting to find biological differences among racial groups to justify an imagined hierarchy, but it’s past time to dismantle the systems created on those unfounded principles, a panel of experts explained on Friday at a UC Berkeley online event.

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent terms
2026 Spring

  • Seminar on Social, Political, and Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine  [PBHLTH 116]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [PBHLTH 199]  

  • Group Study  [PBHLTH 298]  

  • Independent Research  [PBHLTH 299]  

2025 Fall

  • Seminar on Social, Political, and Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine  [PBHLTH 116]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Directed Group Study  [PBHLTH 198]  

  • Directed Group Study  [PBHLTH 198]  

  • Directed Group Study  [PBHLTH 198]  

  • Group Study  [PBHLTH 298]  

  • Independent Research  [PBHLTH 299]  

2025 Spring

  • Seminar on Social, Political, and Ethical Issues in Health and Medicine  [PBHLTH 116]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Special Topics in Public Health  [PBHLTH 196]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Field Study in Public Health  [PBHLTH 197]  

  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [PBHLTH 199]  

  • Group Study  [PBHLTH 298]  

  • Independent Research  [PBHLTH 299]