David Segal studies the genetics and epigenetics of neurological disorders and cancer. A guiding principle for the lab has been to study how nature does what it does, then attempt to use that knowledge to make useful tools to improve public health, either through increased knowledge or therapeutic intervention. Specific research foci in the Segal Lab revolve around engineering zinc finger, Transcription Activator-like Effectors, and CRISPR/Cas nucleases and transcription factors.