Dr. McCauley is a genetic epidemiologist whose research focuses on the use of molecular techniques, bioinformatics, and statistical methods to identify genetic variation and to characterize its role in disease susceptibility and outcomes within a variety of human diseases. He has significant experience overseeing biological sample collection, tracking, quality control, genotyping, sequencing and analysis involved in large-scale human genetics projects. Dr. McCauley is a member of several multidisciplinary collaborations with colleagues both nationally and internationally. He has been involved in studying a variety of complex human diseases including autism, Alzheimer disease, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. McCauley's primary interest is to improve the understanding of human disease through disease gene discovery, genomics, and in-depth examination of environmental factors that influence disease outcomes. He has worked on understanding the genetic factors involved in numerous complex genetic diseases and within the last decade has focused efforts on understanding the genetic factors effecting diseases within historically underrepresented populations in research. The generalization of current genetic research findings to individuals of different genetic backgrounds is a significant and unanswered question in research, especially in light of reported differences in prevalence, clinical course, and progression of different diseases across populations. Understanding the biology behind these differences can help us to better understand diseases and how to treat or even prevent them. In addition to leading his own NIH-funded research projects focused on the genetic aspects of both multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease within the US Hispanic population, Dr. McCauley contributes to a number of other large collaborative research efforts both nationally and internationally.