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H2020Doctoral network2018–2023

PEP-NET · Predictive Epigenetics: Fusing Theory and Experiment

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2018-11-01 → 2023-04-30
EU contribution
€4,062,700
Participants
16
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Predictive Epigenetics: Fusing Theory and Experiment

Epigenetics research aims to understand how a single genomic DNA sequence can generate and maintain the extraordinary diversity of cell identities and functions that comprise the adult organism. Modifications of DNA and chromatin and the binding of other molecules provide a gene-regulatory layer that modulates gene activity states, so that one genome gives rise to several “epigenomes”. Epigenetic mechanisms are profoundly implicated in human health and disease. There is virtually no area of human health that is not affected by epigenetics, and pharmaceutical companies are responding rapidly to these discoveries. Despite the importance of epigenetic processes for human health, we are still far from a complete mechanistic understanding of many epigenetic phenomena. A quantitative mechanistic understanding of epigenetic regulation is essential to understand its function in healthy cells and in disease states. Ultimately this knowledge will enable prediction of the effects and side effects of existing therapeutic interventions and the development of new targeted therapies. The Predictive Epigenetics Network (PEP-NET) is an interdisciplinary research initiative aimed at advancing our understanding of epigenetic regulation through a combination of mathematical modeling and quantitative experiments. The overarching goal of PEP-NET is to develop comprehensive theoretical and experimental descriptions of epigenetic regulation at different scales: single-locus regulation, genome-wide targeting, and 3D genome organization. This initiative also aims to train the next generation of European researchers (PhD students) in interdisciplinary skills, communicate the value of integrating experimentation and theory to a wider audience, and translate research outcomes into commercial and medical applications.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation are profoundly implicated in human health and disease. However, we are still far from a complete mechanistic understanding of many epigenetic processes. Without an understanding of mechanisms we cannot fully understand function in healthy cells, in disease states, and the effects and side effects of therapeutic interventions. This severely limits the development of healthcare strategies. Research in epigenetics has typically been based on experiments and not on theory. Although this has delivered large amounts of information, information alone is not sufficient. Further progress urgently needs a paradigm shift in the way in which we study epigenetics, namely: epigenetics needs mathematics. Mathematical models are essential to capture and understand the complex, dynamic and stochastic nature of epigenetic regulation. Models are immensely powerful because they identify unifying concepts and enable predictions of system properties. Modelling epigenetic processes not only holds the key to a deep mechanistic understanding, but also ultimately, to drug response predictions, patient-specific diagnoses and new therapies. One of the greatest challenges to uniting biology and mathematics is the barrier between disciplines, because education in each field has traditionally been mono-disciplinary. The PEP-NET ITN will overcome these barriers by uniting 16 outstanding European academic laboratories and companies who have pioneered the successful combination of theoretical and experimental epigenetics. PEP-NET will train a new cohort of 15 European researchers to combine quantitative experiments with predictive theoretical models, and to apply this knowledge to basic and applied questions of epigenetic function.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN · BerlinCoordinatorGermany
  • CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHE EN BIOLOGIE ET MEDECINE · Illkirch GraffenstadenFrance
  • DIAGENODE · SeraingBelgium
  • FRIEDRICH MIESCHER INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FONDATION · BASELSwitzerland
  • JOHN INNES CENTRE · NorwichUnited Kingdom
  • KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET · KOBENHAVNDenmark
  • MAX DELBRUECK CENTRUM FUER MOLEKULARE MEDIZIN IN DER HELMHOLTZ-GEMEINSCHAFT (MDC) · BerlinGermany
  • MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV · MUNCHENGermany
  • OSPEDALE SAN RAFFAELE SRL · MilanoItaly
  • OXFORD BIODYNAMICS PLC · OXFORDUnited Kingdom
  • OXFORD NANOIMAGING LTD · OXFORDUnited Kingdom
  • THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · OxfordUnited Kingdom
  • THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CORP · PhiladelphiaUnited States
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE · AdelaideAustralia
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO II · NapoliItaly
  • UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA · NorwichUnited Kingdom

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union