Research at the IES

We study the epigenetic mechanism that determine cell identity.

Epigenetic Reprogramming lies at the heart of the earliest stages of development, at fertilization, which enables the formation of a totipotent zygote – the one-cell embryo able to give rise to all the cells of our body. 

Our research is dedicated to exploring the fascinating field of Cellular Identity and uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying Epigenetic Reprogramming, Cell Fate, and Cellular Memory. We aim at determining how stem cells originate in vivo and at establishing the epigenetic principles behind changes in cellular plasticity and reprogramming. Our researchers study how the transitions in cell potency and cell fate are regulated by chromatin-mediated processes using a variety of approaches including quantitative imaging, modeling, functional genomics and cell biology. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the maintenance and manipulation of cellular plasticity will have strong implications in regenerative medicine and disease, and will help in deciphering human reproduction and infertility.