Grant: Operating Grant: CEEHRC (Epigenetics)

The DNA that makes up the genome (the collection of all the DNA in your cell) is tagged with various chemical marks that are attached either directly to the DNA or to its packaging proteins. These marks, collectively called the epigenome, act as a kind of molecular mark-up language that tells the cell's proteins which genes to turn 'on' and which to turn 'off'. Unlike the genome, which remains largely the same throughout life, the epigenome changes with age, in response to environmental influences, and in many types of disease. As the bridge between environmental exposures and peoples' genomes, the epigenome harbours enormous promise to understand normal development and disorders arising throughout a person's lifespan. Our accelerated ability to 'read' these epigenetic marks is revealing their disruption in most diseases; however, the rapid rate of the emergence of new scientific methodologies coupled with the increasing desire of researchers to incorporate epigenetics into new studies highlights the urgent need for a nationally coordinated approach. The CEEHRC Network Phase II aims to continue to address this gap by developing and strengthening collaborations between basic and applied scientists, clinicians, bioinformaticians, statisticians, and experts in drug development. We seek to address the bench-to-bedside gulf in epigenetics research in Canada, to harness improved understanding of epigenetic mechanisms and the potential improve patient outcomes by altering epigenetic states associated with disease.