What's a synonym for transcend, but in a downward (metaphorical) direction?

Is there a word that could fill in the blank of this sentence I’m trying to write?

Another way to broaden possible adoption and impact is to work on problems or solutions that cross the boundaries of unaligned or competing theories and methods by operating at a different level, by transcending or ________ing them.

I just want to suggest the idea of scientific work happening at hierarchical levels of abstraction, and that you can avoid problems on level D either by hopping up to level C or down to level E.

I better get back to actually writing now, but if anyone can think of a word to fit in there, I’d love to know it. I got nowhere with online thesauri.

Thanks!

Oh — a different pair that suggested the same contrast would be good, too.