Epigenetics @HelmholtzMunich

Dozens of researchers @Helmholtz Munich join forces to reveal the myriad of secrets of Epigenetics.

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Dozens of researchers at Helmholtz Munich joined forces

to reveal the myriad of secrets of Epigenetics.

The Epigenetics@HelmholtzMunich Community Research consists of almost 30 labs from 17 Helmholtz Munich institutes, committed to performing ground-breaking research in the field of epigenetics. These groups are pioneers in their respective disciplines, utilizing cutting edge techniques to answer the complex questions of today.

The topics studied by the community include: stem cells, cellular plasticity, metabolism, diabetes, computational biology, epidemiology, immunology, development, and systems biology. 

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Beads on a string
chromatin visualized using 3D-printed nucleosomes (by Igor Kukhtevich) and crochet yarn

Epigenetics in Numbers

28
Research Groups
16
Institutes
6
Departments

Key Activities

News & Highlights

Alle ansehen
A new study clarifies the role of the RNA methyltransferase METTL5, showing that it does not modify mRNA in living cells but is instead restricted to rRNA.

IFE,

Defining the Role of METTL5 in m6A Deposition: No Evidence for mRNA Methylation In Vivo

A new study clarifies the role of the RNA methyltransferase METTL5, showing that it does not modify mRNA in living cells but is instead restricted to rRNA.

12.07.2023, Neuherberg: Helmholtz Pioneer Campus Opening. Foto: Matthias Balk/Helmholtz Zentrum München

Stem Cells, IES, Computational Health, ICB, Bioengineering, IBMI, Pioneer Campus,

Three Helmholtz Munich Researchers Elected to Bavarian Academy

At its most recent plenary session, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BAdW) elected 13 distinguished scholars as new members. Among them are three researchers from Helmholtz Munich: Prof. Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla, Prof. Fabian Theis,…

photosynthesis green pattern

Environmental Health, EPI, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics, IFE,

More Than Waste: Photorespiration Shapes the Plant Epigenome

Photorespiration has long been regarded as an energetically costly side reaction of photosynthesis, reducing plants’ net carbon gain. Now, researchers at Helmholtz Munich, in collaboration with Heidelberg University and the Technical University of…

When Metabolism Meets Chromatin: Histone Acylations Tune Gene Expression

IFE,

When Metabolism Meets Chromatin: Histone Acylations Tune Gene Expression

Metabolic dysfunction is a hallmark of numerous diseases, including diabetes and other metabolic disorders. But how do changes in our metabolism affect our cells and the way they function? How do they influence our genes?

The DNA is packaged into chromatin

IES, IFE,

Empowering Young Scientists: Applications Open for 2026 Chromatin Summer School

Talented PhD students are encouraged to apply for the upcoming Chromatin Summer School taking place from 17 - 29 August 2026

Verleihung des Bayerischen Maximiliansordens

Awards & Grants, Stem Cells, IES,

Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla Honored With the Maximiliansorden

Prof. Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla, this year’s Leibniz Prize winner, has received the Bavarian Maximiliansorden for Science and Art. Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder presented the distinguished state honor to her at the State Chancellery,…

Businessmen shaking hands to seal a deal with his partner. Business and entrepreneurship award ceremony theme.

Recent Publications

Nutrients 18:1727 (2026)

Cahill, T. ; Nalesso, V. ; Clarke, P. ; Lagrán, M.M.d. ; Strydom, A. ; Li, C. ; Potier, M. ; Beckers, J. ; Langohr, K. ; Lió, P. ; Torre, R.d.L. ; Forcano, L. ; Hiance-Delahaye, A. ; Hérault, Y. ; Dierssen, M.

Understanding obesity in individuals with down syndrome: Caregiver perceptions, awareness, and motivation.
Environ. Sci. Technol., DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6c02543 (2026)

Offer, S. ; Czech, H. ; Di Bucchianico, S. ; Hartikainen, A. ; Ihalainen, M. ; Hakkarainen, H. ; Happo, M.S. ; Huttunen, K. ; Ihantola, T. ; Suhonen, H. ; Uski, O. ; Martikainen, M. ; Dilger, M. ; Schlager, C. ; Candeias, J. ; Irmler, M. ; Beckers, J. ; Jakobi, G. ; Kanashova, T. ; Kortelainen, M. ; Kuuspalo, K. ; Lamberg, H. ; Leskinen, A. ; Michalke, B. ; Oeder, S. ; Orasche, J. ; Passig, J. ; Yli-Pirilä, P. ; Rönkkö, T. ; Schnelle-Kreis, J. ; Sklorz, M. ; Streibel, T. ; Tissari, J. ; Buters, J. ; Mülhopt, S. ; Weiß, C. ; Dittmar, G. ; Jokiniemi, J. ; Hirvonen, M. ; Jalava, P. ; Sippula, O. ; Zimmermann, R.

Atmospheric aging alters the toxicity mechanisms of residential wood combustion aerosol: A parallel In Vivo and In Vitro study.
ACS Omega 11, 32946–32954 (2026)

Walter, D. ; Helbig, M. ; Weydanz, B. ; Voltmer, D. ; Bonfiglio, J.J. ; Marr, C. ; Großkopf, T.

Learning to see peaks: Attention-based feature extraction for automated chromatographic peak detection.
Nutrients 18:1692 (2026)

Cahill, T. ; Nalesso, V. ; Clarke, P. ; Lagrán, M.M.d. ; Strydom, A. ; Li, C. ; Potier, M. ; Beckers, J. ; Langohr, K. ; Lió, P. ; Torre, R.d.L. ; Forcano, L. ; Hiance-Delahaye, A. ; Hérault, Y. ; Dierssen, M.

Caregiver-associated physical activity patterns, dietary behaviors and interventional beliefs in individuals with down syndrome: Insights from a large European survey.
Nucleic Acids Res. 54:gkag485 (2026)

Grover, A. ; Zhang, L. ; Muser, T. ; Häfliger, S. ; Wang, M. ; Yates, J. ; Indilewitsch, M.C. ; Wang, Y. ; Van Allen, E.M. ; Theis, F.J. ; Ibarra Del Rio, I.A. ; Krymova, E. ; Boeva, V.

UniversalEPI: Robust prediction of cell type-specific and differential chromatin interactions from DNA sequence and chromatin accessibility.

Chossegros, M. ; Wagner, S. ; Matek, C. ; Stockholm, D. ; Tannier, X. ; Marr, C.

Hierarchical supervision in DINOv2 training improves generalizability on white blood cell images.
Neuron, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2026.04.031 (2026)

Bressan, C. ; Gengatharan, A. ; Rodriguez-Aller, R. ; Richter, M. ; Snapyan, M. ; Fischer-Sternjak, J. ; Roukerd, M.R. ; Rosin, N. ; Cherinet, A. ; Biernaskie, J. ; Habibi, E. ; Götz, M. ; Saghatelyan, A.

Cilia beating of ependymal cells regulates adult neural stem cell quiescence via mechanical forces mediated by PKD1/2-TRPM3.
EMBO Rep., DOI: 10.1038/s44319-026-00800-w (2026)

Uruci, S. ; Lalonde, M. ; Luijsterburg, M.S. ; Hamperl, S.

Polymerase face-off: Emerging concepts in transcription-replication coordination.
EMBO Rep., DOI: 10.1038/s44319-026-00794-5 (2026)

Dengler, L. ; Padovani, F. ; Lemke, B. ; Brugger, R. ; Benedikt, A. ; Westermann, B. ; Maček, B. ; Schmoller, K.M. ; Ewald, J.C.

In the absence of mitochondrial fusion unequal segregation of mitochondria drives mtDNA loss.
Nature 653, 510-518 (2026)

NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (Döring, A. ; Gieger, C. ; Heier, M. ; Linkohr, B. ; Peters, A. ; Schneider, A. ; Stieber, J. ; Stöckl, D. ; Thorand, B. ; Wolf, K.)

Obesity rise plateaus in developed nations and accelerates in developing nations.
Reprod. Fertility 7:RAF260031 (2026)

Laurent, K. ; Hoffmann, S. ; Marschall, S. ; Richter, K.B. ; Teperino, R. ; Hrabě de Angelis, M. ; Skerrett-Byrne, D.A. ; Beckers, J.

Embryo transfer following IVF alters susceptibility to metabolic phenotypes in male mouse offspring compared to naturally conceived offspring.
Cell, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.03.049 (2026)

Koprulu, M. ; Smith-Byrne, K. ; Ferolito, B.R. ; Macdonald-Dunlop, E. ; Luan, J. ; Hedman, K. ; Ogamba, C.F. ; Kuliesius, J. ; Repetto, L. ; Ramisch, A. ; Abbasi, F. ; Johan Ärnlöv, ; Assimes, T.L. ; Björck, H.M. ; Björkander, S. ; Bøttcher, M. ; Butterworth, A.S. ; Chen, Z.M. ; Cho, K. ; Clarke, R.J. ; Cox, S.R. ; Czene, K. ; Danesh, J. ; Dedoussis, G. ; Elmståhl, S. ; Eriksson, N. ; Eriksson, P. ; Esko, T. ; Ferreiro-Iglesias, A. ; Franks, P.W. ; Fu, J. ; Gaziano, J.M. ; Ghanbari, M. ; Gieger, C. ; Gilly, A. ; Grallert, H. ; Gunter, M.J. ; Gustafsson, S. ; Göteson, A. ; Hall, P. ; Hansson, O. ; Harris, S.E. ; Hayward, C. ; Herder, C. ; Hernandez-Pacheco, N. ; Hijazi, Z. ; Hillary, R.F. ; Hopewell, J.C. ; Hu, S. ; Hwang, S. ; Jern, C. ; Johansson, ?. ; Jonsson, L. ; Kalnapenkis, A. ; Kerrison, N.D. ; Kho, P.F. ; Klarić, L. ; Kohleick, L. ; Kraft, J. ; Landén, M. ; Levy, D. ; Li, L. ; Lind, L. ; Long, J. ; Mattsson, N. ; Melén, E. ; Merid, S.K. ; Mertins, P. ; Michaëlsson, K. ; Möller, P. ; Murgia, F. ; Nyegaard, M. ; Park, Y.-C. ; Pearson, E.R. ; Peters, J. ; Petrie, J. ; Png, G. ; Polašek, O. ; Prins, B.P. ; Ripke, S. ; Roden, M. ; Rohde, P.D. ; Said, S. ; Shen, X. ; Schwenk, J.M. ; Siegbahn, A. ; Smith, J.G. ; Stanne, T.M. ; Suhre, K. ; Sundström, J. ; Thorand, B. ; Valdés‐Márquez, E. ; Vallerga, C.L. ; Meurs, J.B.J.v. ; Viñuela, A. ; Võsa, U. ; Wallentin, L. ; Walters, R.G. ; Wareham, N.J. ; Weber, J.E.

Multi-cohort proteogenomic analyses reveal genetic effects across the proteome and diseasome.
Cell Rep. 45:117304 (2026)

Kim, J. ; Xie, S. ; Valenzuela, L.F. ; Xiao, J. ; Lanz, M.C. ; Gao, X. ; Swaffer, M. ; Mitchell, C.E. ; Rubin, S.M. ; Schmoller, K.M. ; Skotheim, J.M.

A Fkh1/2 binding site array in the WHI5 promoter drives sub-scaling transcription.
EMBO J. 45, 3073–3101 (2026)

Hermant, C. ; Mourra-Díaz, D.M. ; Oomen, M.E. ; Jansz, N. ; Noll, C. ; Canat, A. ; Pal, M. ; Nakatani, T. ; Schauer, T. ; Torres-Padilla, M.E.

TBP regulates transposable element expression in early mouse embryos.

Shapira, Y. ; Noack, F. ; Vangelisti, S. ; Chong, F. ; Lifshitz, A. ; Tanay, A. ; Bonev, B.

Neural stem cell epigenomes and fate bias are temporally coordinated during mouse cortical development.
Genome Biol., DOI: 10.1186/s13059-026-04066-2 (2026)

Malagoli, G. ; Hanel, P. ; Danese, A. ; Wolf, G. ; Colomé-Tatché, M.

Geometry-aware graph attention networks to explain single-cell chromatin states and gene expression with SEAGALL.

Petzold, A. ; Wessely, A. ; Schliep, S. ; Jiang, H. ; Tran, M. ; Koch, E.A. ; Peng, T. ; Starz, H. ; Berking, C. ; Marr, C. ; Heppt, M.V.

Weakly supervised deep learning for cutaneous squamous and basal cell carcinoma in whole-slide histopathology.

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