Center for Biomedical Research Excellence, Epigenomics of Development and Disease

描述（由申请人提供）：我们的目标是建立一个高度互动和动态的研究小组，其研究重点是了解人类疾病病因和进展中表观遗传变化的功能作用。我们提出了五个新的研究项目，都由初级研究人员领导，将使用分子，生物化学和计算生物学方法来研究不同疾病模型中的表观遗传调控。我们将帮助定义环境压力因素在表观基因组破坏中所起的作用，并提出跨代模型中的前沿，关键研究，以了解表观基因组的变化如何与复杂的遗传模式和高发疾病的家族风险因素联系在一起。这些目标将利用整合的系统生物学方法将表观基因组平台（如全球甲基化阵列）与下一代RNA测序和芯片测序联系起来。为了进一步加强该计划，我们已经包括了一个翻译组件作为这个COBRE的一个关键方面，这是符合我们的全球战略使命，以满足北达科他州的老龄化，主要是农村人口的需求。由于表观遗传变化可能是可逆的，我们相信这项研究可能会为癌症，药物成瘾和心血管疾病等毁灭性疾病带来新的治疗模式。该中心的基本原理是，每个人都带来了独特的专业知识和关键方向，共同有助于阐明表观遗传变化在各种疾病模型中的作用。该中心将培养一个有重点的研究小组，成功完成我们的具体目标将导致建立一个合作和可持续的发展和疾病表观基因组学卓越中心，能够吸引最聪明，最有才华的教师，研究生和博士后研究员在新兴的表观遗传学领域进行世界级的研究。UND完全致力于确保这一群体的增长和可持续性，即使在COBRE赠款结束后。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our objective is to establish a highly interactive and dynamic group of investigators whose research focuses on understanding the functional role of epigenetic changes in human disease etiology and progression. We have proposed five new research projects all led by junior investigators, that will use molecular, biochemical, and computational biology approaches to study epigenetic regulation in different disease models. We will help define the role that environmental stressors play in disruption of the epigenome, and propose cutting edge, critical research in trans-generational models to understand how changes in the epigenomic may be linked to complex inheritance patterns and familial risk factors for high incidence diseases. These goals will be accomplished utilizing an integrative, systems biology approach to link epigenomic platforms such as global methylation arrays with next-generation RNA-sequencing and Chip-sequencing. To enhance the program further, we have included a translational component as a key facet of this COBRE, which is consistent with our global, strategic mission to address the needs of North Dakota's aging, largely rural population. Because epigenetic changes are potentially reversible, we believe that this research could lead to new treatment paradigms for devastating diseases such as cancer, drug addiction, and cardiovascular disease. The rationale for this center is that each individual brings unique expertise and key directions that together can help elucidate the role of epigenetic changes in various disease models. This center will nurture a focused group of investigators, and successful completion of our specific aims will result in the establishment of a collaborative and sustainable Center of Excellence in the Epigenomics of Development and Disease capable of attracting the brightest and most talented faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to conduct world class research in the burgeoning field of epigenetics. UND is fully committed to ensuring the growth and sustainability of this group even after the COBRE grant ends.