Epigenetik
                 Portal epigenetischer Forschung in D, A und CH, gesponsered durch das SPP1129 (DFG)

• Home
• News
• Gruppen
• SPP1129
• Andere Programme
• Konferenzen
• Jobs
• Links

• Akhtar Becker Bock, Lengauer Buiting, Horsthemke Cardoso Dammann

Gruppe Bock, Lengauer

Computational Epigenetics, Bioinformatik, Epigenomik

in Saarbrücken

Epigenetics is an umbrella term for heritable gene regulation that is not directly encoded in the DNA sequence. Because of its clinical relevance in cancer, inflammation and mental disorders, epigenetic mechanisms have recently received a boost of attention, and several large epigenome projects are now underway. Starting to work on computational epigenetics in 2004, we were among the first bioinformaticians to address epigenetic questions by computational methods. Using bioinformatic concepts such as statistical learning and prediction, we could show that epigenetic regulation is deeply rooted in patterns of the genomic DNA sequence, a result that was a surprise for many molecular biologists. Furthermore, we have developed several software tools that are widely used by the epigenetics community, including BiQ Analyzer for bisulfite sequencing, MethMarker for biomarker optimization, and EpiGRAPH for epigenome analysis.

Our current work focuses on three areas. First, we developed and continue to extend an epigenome prediction software (http://epigraph.mpi-inf.mpg.de), which brings the use of advanced statistical and machine learning methods within reach of epigeneticists with little bioinformatic experience. Second, we contribute bioinformatic analysis and prediction know-how to an EU project on cancer epigenetics (http://www.cancerdip.eu/), and we develop a comprehensive bioinformatic pipeline for discovery and optimization of epigenetic cancer biomarkers. Third, we develop methods and perform analyses that compare epigenetic modifications in different species and tissues, in order to understand the origins and molecular function of epigenetic regulation in mammals.

Our long-term goals are to develop advanced bioinformatic methods that help bench researchers analyze and interpret epigenetic data, and to use these methods in collaboration with biomedical and clinical researchers to bring epigenetic diagnostics and treatment for diseases such as cancer, chronic inflammation or mental disorders into the clinic.

Please see http://www.computational-epigenetics.de/publications.php an up-to-date list of publications.

Publikationen

Kontakt

Impressum