Research at the IFE

Our mission is to understand: How are genes packaged within the nucleus of a cell? How does DNA organization regulate gene expression? How does the marking of genomic regions with distinct small chemical modifications establish a cellular memory? We utilize cutting-edge technologies to observe, predict, and manipulate how these processes respond to environmental and developmental signals in individual cells.

The human body is composed of more than 200 different cell types. Each of our body’s cells contains the same hereditary information encoded in around 30,000 genes. Each gene serves as a plan for a protein that can be produced during a process called gene expression. However, our cells do not express all genes, only the ones required for their function. Thus, different cell types express different sets of genes. But how do our cells control which genes are active?

The DNA encodes genes and is packaged inside the nucleus in a fascinating structure called chromatin. Remodeling chromatin by epigenetic mechanisms controls the ON-and-OFF status of our genes. It ensures that the right set of genes is expressed in each cell. However, if misregulated, these mechanisms can cause fatal diseases such as metabolic disorders or cancer.

From Discovery to Therapy - the Future is Epigenetic

At the Institute of Functional Epigenetics (IFE) we established a nucleus for epigenetic research at the Helmholtz Munich and bridge different disease areas. We are committed to deciphering the epigenetic principles underlying (i) the development of common diseases, (ii) the predisposition for diseases through environmental impacts, and (iii) cellular reprogramming and potency. We will devise solutions for tackling epigenetic anomalies in disease, stem cell renewal, and cellular metabolism to promote a healthier society in a rapidly changing world.