Epigenetics Podcast

40:11

CpG Islands, Polycomb, and the Regulation of...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/09/24

In this episode we speak with Rob Klose, Professor of Genetics at the University of Oxford, about how CpG islands help control gene expression and chromatin regulation during development.We discuss how his lab connected CpG islands to histone modifications and chromatin regulation. He describes how KDM2A and KDM2B were found to recognize CpG islands, how this led to the study of H3K36 methylation at promoters, and how BioCAP was developed to isolate non-methylated DNA. He also explains how this

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46:38

Epigenetics of the Cannabinoid System (Onder Albayram)

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/09/10

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Onder Albayram from the Medical University of South Carolina about the role of the endocannabinoid system in brain aging and neuroprotection.A major part of the conversation focuses on the endocannabinoid system. We talk about CB1 receptors, the endogenous ligands anandamide and 2-AG, and the enzymes involved in making and breaking them down. Dr. Albayram explains that this signaling system is widespread in the brain and is important for

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45:51

Chromatin State Reprogramming in Cancer Progression...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/08/27

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Kunal Rai from MD Anderson Cancer Center about his work on chromatin state reprogramming in cancer progression.A major part of the conversation covers his postdoctoral work on active DNA demethylation. He describes how he identified an AID-MBD4-based mechanism, later supported by GAD45, and how this work showed a role for DNA demethylation in early neuronal differentiation and in colon cancer initiation. We then discuss his move into

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54:14

Statistical Physics Approaches to DNA Methylation and...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/08/13

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Steffen Rulands from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich about how methods from statistical physics can be used to study collective phenomena in biology. We discuss his path from physics into stem cell biology and epigenetics, and how this background shapes the questions he asks in his work.We talk about his lab’s focus on quantitative and mechanistic modeling rather than wet lab experiments. He explains that he uses single-cell

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44:04

From GAL4 to targeted DAM-ID: Tools for Studying Gene...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/07/30

In this episode, we speak with Andrea Brand, Chair of the Department of Cell Biology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute. We discuss her scientific path from yeast gene regulation to Drosophila neurobiology, and how early interests in DNA and microscopy shaped her career.We talk about the development of the GAL4 system with Norbert Perrimon and how it enabled targeted gene expression in specific tissues and cells. Andrea explains why this

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52:39

Antibodies, Automation, and the Fight for...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/07/16

In this episode we speak with Alon Goren from UC San Diego about his work at the intersection of genomic technology development and chromatin biology. We discuss how his lab studies how the epigenome is regulated, how disruption of that regulation contributes to disease, and how technology can be improved to make results more robust and reproducible.We talk about his early interest in biology, how that developed through medical research training, and how a molecular biology lab shaped the

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38:39

Long-Term Maintenance of Neuronal Identity (Tomohisa...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/07/02

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Tomohisa Toda from the Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin about his work on the long-term maintenance of neuronal identity, with a focus on epigenetic and RNA-based mechanisms in brain stability and aging. Dr. Toda describes how brain circuits are stabilized over time, why critical periods are temporally restricted, and how epigenetic regulation may help maintain established neural identity. This led him to postdoctoral work on

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43:14

Enhancer RNAs: Discovery and Function (Tae-Kyung Kim)

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/06/18

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Tae-Kyung Kim from POSTECH in South Korea about the discovery and characterisation of enhancer RNAs. Dr. Kim describes joining Danny Reinberg’s lab as a graduate student, where he was trained in protein biochemistry and general transcription mechanisms. He recalls this period as a formative time, when research on transcription factors and RNA polymerase II was rapidly advancing and many findings were still novel. Kim then moved into

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64:05

Peter Becker: A Career in Chromatin — From ISWI to...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/06/04

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Peter Becker from the Biomedical Center Munich about his successful career in Epigenetics, where he discovered the chromatin remodeler ISWI and dosage compensation complex MOF.Dr. Becker shares thoughts about his postdoctoral work with Carl Wu, where he developed embryo extract systems for studying chromatin assembly and transcription. He explains how work on Drosophila extracts led to the purification of ATP-dependent remodeling

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51:33

Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulation of...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/05/21

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Filippo Rijli from the Friedrich Miescher Institute about his work on transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of craniofacial and neuronal development.Dr. Rijli recalls pivotal moments in his career, including his postdoctoral work where he explored the functions of HoxA2 in craniofacial development. We discuss key findings from his landmark papers, highlighting how individual transcription factors like HoxA2 can dictate the

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37:47

Epigenetic Signatures During Aging and Cancer (Alena...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/05/07

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Alena van Bömmel from the Biomedical Center (BMC) in Munich about her work on the development of interpretable epigenetic clocks and statistical models of epigenetic dynamics during aging, and the unique epigenetic signatures associated with various cancers, such as brain tumors or leukemias to detect powerful diagnostic markers or predictors of therapeutic response.The Interview starts with Dr. van Bömmel sharing her work on

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41:20

Heterochromatin Formation by the HUSH complex (Iva...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/04/23

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Iva Tchasovnikarova from the Wellcome Trust Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute about her work on heterochromatin formation and epigenetic control.We begin with Dr. Tchasovnikarova's journey into the field of biology, tracing her roots back to her formative years and the pragmatic guidance of her parents. Despite initial uncertainty about her career path, it was her mother’s passion for teaching biology that ultimately inspired her to

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51:47

Cryo-EM and the Dynamics of TFIID and PRC2 (Eva Nogales)

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/04/09

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Eva Nogales from UC Berkeley about her work on Cryo-EM and the Dynamics of TFIID and PRC2.We explore the origins of Dr. Nogales's fascination with biology and how her academic journey shifted from physics into the realms of biophysics and structural biology. She shares the profound impact of her training under physicists who instilled a rigorous, quantitative approach to problem-solving, a perspective that continues to influence her

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45:20

RNA modifications and Gene Expression (Michaela Frye)

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/03/26

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Michaela Frye from he German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg about her work on the role of RNA modifications and RNA binding proteins in gene expression and cancer development.Central to Dr. Frey’s work is the NSUN family of RNA-modifying proteins, which she first encountered during her postdoctoral research. Initially perceived as a DNA methyltransferase, she unwittingly discovered that this family also plays vital roles in

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48:44

Polycomb and Three-Dimensional Genome Organisation...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/03/12

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Oliver Bell from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles about his work on chromatin-based regulatory systems that encode cellular memory and their implications for development and disease.The Interview starts with Dr. Bell describing his early career contributions to understanding the functionality of histone methylation in facilitating dosage compensation and gene silencing. His efforts at dissecting the complexities of

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39:07

From Placeholder Nucleosomes to Zygotic Genome...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/02/26

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Patrick Murphy from Cornell University about his work on gene regulation and cellular identity.Dr. Murphy's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms that govern gene expression through transcriptional and chromatin-based regulatory networks. At the start of the Interview Dr. Murphy describes an innovative single-molecule analytical approach he developed during his early research. This method enables the simultaneous detection of

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41:20

Decoding Cell Fate Through 3D Genome Organization and...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/02/12

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Srinjan Basu from Imperial College London to talk about his work on how chromatin architecture and epigenetic mechanisms orchestrate developmental gene expression programs.We begin by exploring Dr. Basu's early work at Harvard which involved pioneering Raman-based label-free imaging, allowing the study of chromatin dynamics in live tissue. Here, he tackles technical challenges faced in visualizing DNA interactions, emphasizing the shift

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29:56

Taking ChIP from Yeast to ENCODE to Enable...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/01/29

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Peggy Farnham from the Keck School of Medicine at USC about her work on establishing the ChIP Method in mammalian cells.In this episode, we dive into the relationship between transcription factors, chromatin dynamics, and gene expression with Professor Peggy Farnham from the Keck School of Medicine at USC. Professor Farnham shares her profound insights into how her groundbreaking research has reshaped our understanding of gene regulation

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55:41

Spatial-Omics and Machine Learning in Muscle Stem...

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2026/01/15

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Will Wang from Sanford Burnham Prebys about his work on muscle stem cell repair, regeneration, and aging, exploring spatial-omics and machine learning.We begin our conversation by exploring the traditional concepts of spatial biology and how they have evolved to play a critical role in disease research. Dr. Wang recounts his journey from a young student in a family of academics to becoming a leading figure in regenerative biology,

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62:31

The Future of Protein–DNA Mapping (Mitch Guttman)

Epigenetics Podcast ·

2025/12/18

In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we talked with Mitch Guttman from Caltec about ChIP-DIP (ChIP-Done In Parallel).ChIP-DIP is a newly developed approach for high-resolution protein–DNA interaction mapping. The method uses antibody-guided isolation of denaturant-insoluble protein–DNA complexes, resulting in substantially improved specificity and peak definition compared with conventional ChIP-seq. We explore why denaturation resistance is central to the workflow, how the method performs

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