Research Groups

Anja Groth - Epigenome Replication and Maintenance

The Groth group explores how the mammalian genome in its structural and functional context of chromatin is copied to maintain cell identity and fate, which is fundamental to organismal development, cancer and aging. The group has developed a suite of repli-omics technologies to examine chromatin replication (like ChOR-seq, SCAR-seq, and Repli-ATAC) and discovered that the DNA replication machinery mediates inheritance of histone-based information and shown this to be critical for gene expression and cell identity of daughter cells. They also identified a histone-based cell cycle clock that facilitates error-free DNA repair by controlling tumor suppressor proteins (BRCA1-BARD1). New focus areas include fidelity in epigenome inheritance mechanisms, how memory operates across chromosome scale, and how disrupted epigenetic memory alters cell fate and contributes to aging and cancer.

Find out more on the group’s DCI webpage. For group updates, follow us on Bluesky or LinkedIn.

Niels Mailand - Genome Maintenance and Cancer Vulnerabilities

The Mailand group investigates how human proteins and their post-translational modifications orchestrate and regulate cellular responses promoting genome and epigenome maintenance. The group combines cutting-edge CRISPR screening, proteomics and genomics approaches with targeted methods within cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and advanced imaging to systematically discover and mechanistically explore cellular signalling processes guarding against pathological changes to the integrity of the genome. This work also identifies synthetic lethality relationships to uncover cancer-specific vulnerabilities, paving the way for novel precision therapies.

Find out more on the group’s DCI webpage. For group updates, follow us on Bluesky.

Jakob Nilsson - Cell Signaling and Cell Cycle

The Nilsson group study protein phosphorylation and the role of phosphatases particularly in mitotic signaling pathways — processes often hijacked in cancer. 

As well as elucidating phosphatase substrate recognition, they bring EpiC their expertise to investigate epigenome maintenance through mitosis, by combining cutting-edge CRISPR screens with biochemical assays. This work provides insights into therapeutic strategies targeting deregulated signalling in tumors.

Find out more on the group’s DCI webpage. For group updates, follow us on Bluesky or LinkedIn.

Nils Krietenstein - Genome Organization and Gene Regulation

The Krietenstein group uses and develops ultra-high-resolution 3D genomics technology to explore how the 3D folding of the genome influences gene expression, and, in turn, the epigenetic memory of cell identity. Understanding of how genome structure imparts functional regulation will shed light on its roles on the dysregulation that occurs in malignancy and disease.

Find out more on the group’s DCI webpage. For group updates, follow us on Bluesky.

Affiliated EpiC Research group

Kathleen Stewart-Morgan – Epigenome Roles in Gametogenesis

The Stewart-Morgan group is based at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen. They use mouse genetics, molecular cell biology and next-generation sequencing methods to uncover the roles of the epigenome in gametogenesis: a process of particularly dynamic epigenetic change.

Find out more on the group’s webpage. For group updates, follow Kathleen on LinkedIn.

EpiC facilities

EpiC hosts a number of platforms to support our cutting-edge technologies:

CRIPSR screening platform
Including Optical Pooled Screening Infrastructure. See this website for more information.

Genomics platform
Contact person: Nazaret Reveron-Gomez