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 all 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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Epigenetics in Numbers

28
Research Groups
16
Institutes
6
Departments

Key Activities

News & Highlights

See all
Exhibition Stem Cells at Deutsches Museum_For Website

Events, Stem Cells, IES, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics, IFE,

Exhibition on Cell Identity at the Deutsches Museum

How do the many different cells in the human body emerge from a single stem cell – and what makes each one unique? The Epigenetics Community at Helmholtz Munich explores these questions in a special exhibition at the Deutsches Museum. From 14. to 16.…

July 2025 GRC Conference Italy - Group photo

IFE,

GRC “Histone and DNA modifications” 2025 organised by Robert Schneider

The 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) "Histone and DNA modifications" conference was organized by Robert Schneider from the Institute for Functional Epigenetics (IFE) at Helmholtz Munich

IFE,

Histone modifications in development

New graphical review produced by Prof. Dr. Robert Schneider and PhD. student Yu-Hao Liu.

Cellular Reprogramming Necklace by Anna Dumitriu photo credit Audrey Rose Mizzi large_QUER

Public Engagement, IES,

Science Through an Artistic Lens

In a world where scientific innovation is increasingly interconnected, the RepliFate-Artist in Residence program seeks to further unite the realms of art and science. Led by Prof. Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla at Helmholtz Munich and supported by…

Develop a protocol for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells in the in vitro laboratory _AdobeStock_760802337

Stem Cells, IES, ISF,

Interview Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla and Magdalena Götz: The Power of Stem Cells

Stem cells are transforming the way we think about treating disease, repairing damaged tissues, and even regenerating entire organs. As a cornerstone of regenerative medicine, they offer hope for conditions previously thought untreatable. In their…

Helmholtz talent forum short

Stem Cells, IES, Computational Health, IFE,

Helmholtz Munich will host the TALENT FORUM

18&19/11/2025. The Talent Forum highlights innovative research ideas and promotes global connections across the scientific community.

If you are preparing to become a group leader in Epigenetics and Nucleic Acids Research, apply as a speaker!

The sperm is directed towards the egg. To do human mating. A pre-fertilization model between an egg and a sperm. 3D Rendering

New Research Findings, Stem Cells, IES,

How DNA Self-Organizes in the Early Embryo

An international research team led by Helmholtz Munich has, for the first time, provided a detailed insight into how the spatial organization of genetic material is established in the cell nucleus of early embryos within the first hours after…

The device for measurement of quantity of sugar in blood

Genetic Connection Between Newborn Blood Proteins and Type 1 Diabetes

A new study, led by Prof. Eleftheria Zeggini and Prof. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, has revealed a significant genetic link between newborn blood protein levels and the future risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Genetic engineering and gene manipulation concept. Hand is replacing part of a DNA molecule.

Safe and Precise Control of Genes Using a New CRISPR Method

Dr. Stefan Stricker lab, in collaboration with the Helmholtz Protein Expression and Purification Platform (PEPP), have developed a CRISPR-based technology that activates genes without using DNA or viruses.

Hands of an elderly man resting on a walking cane

How a Missing Gene Speeds Up Aging: New Insights into Telomere Health

A research led by Dr. Martin Hrabě de Angelis found that the loss of Ten1 gene in mice induces telomere shortening and models human dyskeratosis congenita.

3d rendering of Human cell

Stem Cells, IES, Computational Health, ICB,

A New Frontier in Human Development Research: Advanced 3D Gastruloid Models Enable Exploration of Early Lineages

A Powerful Tool for Modeling Early Human Development

AI human stem cells dividing

Cell Fate Changes: The Role of Transcriptional Memory in Reprogramming

Dr. Eva Hörmanseder's lab has uncovered crucial factors that limit the success of nuclear reprogramming, a process used to change one type of cell into another.

HMGU_Icon_Stem_Cells

Featured Publication, Stem Cells, IES,

Cell Fate Changes: The Role of Transcriptional Memory in Reprogramming

A research team led by Dr. Eva Hörmanseder from the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES) has uncovered crucial factors that limit the success of nuclear reprogramming, a process used to change one type of cell into another. While this…

HMGU_Icon_Stem_Cells

Featured Publication, Stem Cells, IES,

SRF: A New Regulator of Retrotransposons and Genes in Early Embryonic Development

A team of researchers led by Prof. Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla has identified a new factor that plays a crucial role in regulating retrotransposons and genes at the earliest stages of embryonic development. This discovery sheds new light on the moment…

Spotlight_Banner_2.png

Stem Cells, IES, IFE,

SAVE THE DATE

9th edition of the Munich Epigenetics Spotlight Meeting.

 

DATE: 16th October 2025

LOCATION: IES Helmholtz Munich

Stem Cells, IES,

New paper from Stephan Hamperl lab

"Transcription-replication conflicts drive R-loop-dependent nucleosome eviction and require DOT1L activity for transcription recovery".

Nucleic Acids Research. 28 February 2025.

Werner M*, Trauner M*, Schauer T., Ummethum H., Márquez-Gómez E.,…

Art_the_IES_IMG_6586

Stem Cells, IES,

New Review on Epigenome dynamics

"Epigenome dynamics in early mammalian embryogenesis".

Nature Reviews Genetics. 27 February 2025.

Adam Burton & Maria Elena Torres-Padilla.

Correcting mutation by genetic engineering

IFE,

Robert Schneider will chair the Gordon Research Conference

Dr. Robert Schneider will co-chair the Histone and DNA Modifications Gordon Research Conference, and Dr. Anne-Sophie Pepin the associated Gordon Research Seminar.

 

DATES: July 19 - 25, 2025.

LOCATION: Lucca (Barga), Italy.

Epigenetics Summer Interns 2024 - poster

Stem Cells, IES, Computational Health, ICB, AIH, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics, IFE,

Call for Applications CLOSED

Epigenetics Summer Internship Call for Applications CLOSED

Development of an embryo - AdobeStock_927855706

New Research Findings, Stem Cells, IES,

Ancient Viral DNA Shapes Early Embryo Development

Over half of our genomes consists of thousands of remnants of ancient viral DNA, known as transposable elements, which are widespread across the tree of life. Once dismissed as the "dark side" of the genome, researchers at Helmholtz Munich and…

Leibniz-Preisträgerin 2025_© DFG  David Ausserhofer Kopie_KI-Erweiterung des Hintergrundes

Awards & Grants, Stem Cells, IES,

Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla Awarded the Leibniz Prize 2025

International Top Scientist from Helmholtz Munich Honored with Germany's Most Prestigious Research Award

 

Kurt Schmoller

Awards & Grants, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics, IFE,

ERC Consolidator Grant Awarded to Kurt Schmoller for Mitochondrial DNA Research

Dr. Kurt Schmoller from the Institute of Functional Epigenetics at Helmholtz Munich has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. This significant recognition supports outstanding mid-career researchers in…

Embryonic stem cells colony under a microscope 3D illustration

IES, IFE,

Stem Cells, The Genies of the Body – New Exhibition at the Deutsches Museum

Created by scientists from the IES and IFE, in partnership with the Research School EpiCrossBorders, this new exhibition at the Deusches Museum reveals the remarkable role of stem cells in health, healing, and the future of medicine.

Events, Stem Cells, IES, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics, IFE,

2nd Helmholtz Summer School on Chromatin Biology - a Great Success

The second "Helmholtz Summer School on Chromatin Biology: A Hands-on Expedition", organized by the Helmholtz Munich Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES) and the Institute of Functional Epigenetics (IFE) in collaboration with the life science…

HMGU_Icon_Molecular_Targets

Featured Publication, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics, IFE,

Fasting Triggers Major Chromatin Reorganization

In a new study led by Dr. Daphne Cabianca, researchers of the Institute of Functional Epigenetics at Helmholtz Munich have unveiled how environmental factors, specifically fasting, can dramatically alter the spatial organization of chromatin within…

Quadratisches Format - ERC Logo

Awards & Grants, IES, LHI, Computational Health, AIH, Molecular Targets and Therapeutics, VIRO, STB,

Five ERC Starting Grants for Helmholtz Munich

Five prestigious Starting Grants from the European Research Council have been granted to researchers with Helmholtz Munich as the host institution. The funding will enable scientists at Helmholtz Munich to advance innovative projects across various…

Leukemia cancer cells

Computational Health, AIH,

The DFG awarded 1.25m Euro funding to Prof. Irmela Jeremias

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has awarded Reinhart Koselleck funding in the amount of 1.25 Mio. Euro to Prof. Irmela Jeremias, head of the Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (AHS) at the Stem Cell Center, for her outstanding…

HMGU_Icon_Stem_Cells

Featured Publication, IES,

New paper unravels the molecular mechanisms underlying a key event which lays down the anatomical foundation of the body

A new paper published in Developmental Cell is the result of a collaboration between the Scialdone (Helmholtz Munich) and Srinivas (Oxford) groups. The two teams combined their respective experimental and computational expertise to unravel the…

Artwork features an allegorical representation of a fertilization event

New Research Findings, Diabetes,

Father's Diet Before Conception Influences Children's Health

A recent study conducted by Helmholtz Munich and the German Center for Diabetes Research provides new insights into how fathers' diets and overweight can affect their children's health even before conception. The findings of the study can help…

POSTER for Workshop: From DNA to Phenotype

IES, IFE,

FROM DNA TO PHENOTYPE Workshop. Join us in Jaen!

This multidisciplinary workshop will bring together 15 OUTSTANDING SPEAKERS with the objective of tackling the various dimensions of epigenetic mechanisms in resilience and adaptation, by providing a platform for researchers to exchange knowledge,…

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

Recent Publications

In: (28th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, MICCAI 2025, 23-27 September 2025, Daejeon). 2026. 77-86 (Lect. Notes Comput. Sc. ; 15973 LNCS)

Dasdelen, M.F. ; Lim, H. ; Buck, M. ; Götze, K.S. ; Marr, C. ; Schneider, S.

CytoSAE: Interpretable Cell Embeddings for Hematology.
Nat. Commun. 16:9745 (2025)

Firsova, A.B. ; Marco Salas, S. ; Kuemmerle, L. ; Abalo, X.M. ; Sountoulidis, A. ; Larsson, L. ; Mahbubani, K.T. ; Theelke, J. ; Andrusivova, Z. ; Alonso Galicia, L. ; Liontos, A. ; Balassa, T. ; Kovács, F. ; Horvath, P. ; Chen, Y. ; Gote-Schniering, J. ; Stoleriu, M.-G. ; Behr, J. ; Meyer, K.B. ; Timens, W. ; Schiller, H.B. ; Luecken, M. ; Theis, F.J. ; Lundeberg, J. ; Nilsson, M. ; Nawijn, M.C. ; Samakovlis, C.

Spatial single-cell atlas reveals regional variations in healthy and diseased human lung.
EMBO J., DOI: 10.1038/s44318-025-00571-5 (2025)

Kukhtevich, I. ; Persson, S. ; Padovani, F. ; Schneider, R. ; Cvijovic, M. ; Schmoller, K.M.

The origin of septin ring size control in budding yeast.
Comm. Biol. 8:1412 (2025)

Boerstler, T. ; Kachkin, D. ; Gerasimova, E. ; Zagha, N. ; Furlanetto, F. ; Nayebzade, N. ; Zappia, L. ; Boisvert, M. ; Farrell, M. ; Ploetz, S. ; Prots, I. ; Regensburger, M. ; Günther, C. ; Winkler, J. ; Gupta, P. ; Theis, F.J. ; Karow, M. ; Falk, S. ; Winner, B. ; Krach, F.

Deciphering brain organoid heterogeneity by identifying key quality determinants.
Am. J. Hum. Genet. 112, 2115-2137 (2025)

Ratajczak, F. ; Heinig, M. ; Falter-Braun, P.

Exploring the omnigenic architecture of selected complex traits.
ACS Nano, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c12054 (2025)

Voss, C. ; Han, L. ; Ansari, M. ; Strunz, M. ; Haefner, V. ; Angelidis, I. ; Mayr, C.H. ; Berthing, T. ; Zhou, Q. ; Günther, E. ; Huzain, O. ; Schmid, O. ; Vogel, U. ; Schniering, J. ; Gaedcke, S. ; Theis, F.J. ; Schiller, H.B. ; Stöger, T.

Toward a ToxAtlas of carbon-based nanomaterials: Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals initiating cell circuits in pulmonary inflammation.
Cell Death Dis. 16:775 (2025)

Bhattacharya, D. ; da Silva Buttkus, P. ; Nalbach, K. ; Cheng, L. ; Garrett, L. ; Irmler, M. ; Kislinger, G. ; Werner, G. ; Rodde, R. ; Lengger, C. ; Beckers, J. ; Zimprich, A. ; Hölter, S.M. ; Gailus-Durner, V. ; Fuchs, H. ; Hrabě de Angelis, M. ; Wefers, B. ; Wurst, W. ; Brill, M.S. ; Schifferer, M. ; Lichtenthaler, S.F. ; Behrends, C.

Neuropathy-associated Tecpr2 mutation knock-in mice reveal endolysosomal loss of function phenotypes in neurons and microglia.
EMBO Rep. 26, 4203-4218 (2025)

Hennes, M. ; Richter, M. ; Fischer-Sternjak, J. ; Götz, M.

Astrocyte diversity and subtypes: Aligning transcriptomics with multimodal perspectives.
Nat. Methods, DOI: 10.1038/s41592-025-02814-z (2025)

Tejada Lapuerta, A. ; Schaar, A. ; Gutgesell, R.M. ; Palla, G. ; Halle, L. ; Minaeva, M. ; Vornholz, L. ; Dony, L. ; Drummer, F. ; Richter, T. ; Bahrami, M. ; Theis, F.J.

Nicheformer: A foundation model for single-cell and spatial omics.
BMC Genomics 26:974 (2025)

Hrovatin, K. ; Moinfar, A.A. ; Zappia, L. ; Parikh, S. ; Tejada Lapuerta, A. ; Lengerich, B. ; Kellis, M. ; Theis, F.J.

Integrating single-cell RNA-seq datasets with substantial batch effects.
Front. Cell. Neurosci. 19:1635551 (2025)

Martinez-Reza, M.F. ; Götz, M.

Wrap it up: Myelination of transplanted neurons for repair.
Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.adi8577:eadi8577 (2025)

DeMeo, B. ; Nesbitt, C. ; Miller, S.A. ; Burkhardt, D.B. ; Lipchina, I. ; Fu, D. ; Holderreith, P. ; Kim, D. ; Kolchenko, S. ; Szalata, A. ; Gupta, I. ; Kerr, C. ; Pfefer, T.J. ; Rojas-Rodriguez, R. ; Kuppassani, S. ; Kruidenier, L. ; Doshi, P.B. ; Zamanighomi, M. ; Collins, J.J. ; Shalek, A.K. ; Theis, F.J. ; Cortes, M.

Active learning framework leveraging transcriptomics identifies modulators of disease phenotypes.
Nat. Commun. 16:9355 (2025)

Yang, K. ; Spitzer, H. ; Sterr, M. ; Hrovatin, K. ; de la O, S. ; Zhang, X. ; Setyono, E.S.A. ; Ud-Dean, M. ; Walzthoeni, T. ; Flisikowski, K. ; Flisikowska, T. ; Schnieke, A. ; Scheibner, K. ; Wells, J.M. ; Sneddon, J.B. ; Kessler, B. ; Wolf, E. ; Kemter, E. ; Theis, F.J. ; Lickert, H.

A multimodal cross-species comparison of pancreas development.
Nat. Commun. 16:8777 (2025)

Schmid, K.T. ; Symeonidi, A. ; Hlushchenko, D. ; Richter, M.L. ; Tijhuis, A.E. ; Foijer, F. ; Colomé-Tatché, M.

Benchmarking scRNA-seq copy number variation callers.
Nat. Methods, DOI: 10.1038/s41592-025-02854-5 (2025)

Hingerl, J.C. ; Martens, L.D. ; Karollus, A. ; Manz, T. ; Buenrostro, J.D. ; Theis, F.J. ; Gagneur, J.

scooby: Modeling multi-modal genomic profiles from DNA sequence at single-cell resolution.
Nat. Commun. 16:8419 (2025)

Ali, M. ; Richter, S. ; Ertürk, A. ; Fischer, D.S. ; Theis, F.J.

Graph neural networks learn emergent tissue properties from spatial molecular profiles.
Nat. Commun. 16:8255 (2025)

Träuble, K. ; Munz, M. ; Pauli, J. ; Sachs, N. ; Vafadarnejad, E. ; Carrillo-Roa, T. ; Maegdefessel, L. ; Kastner, P. ; Heinig, M.

Integrated single-cell atlas of human atherosclerotic plaques.

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Epigenetics Coordination Office
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International Helmholtz-Edinburgh Research School for Epigenetics

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