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，他们的研究重点是了解表观遗传变化在人类疾病病因和进展中的功能作用。我们提出了五个新的研究项目，这些项目都由初级研究人员领导，将使用分子、生化和计算生物学方法来研究不同疾病模型中的表观遗传调节。我们将帮助定义环境应激源在表观基因组破坏中所起的作用，并建议在跨代模型中进行前沿的关键研究，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性风险因素联系起来。这些目标将利用一种综合的系统生物学方法来实现，将全球甲基化阵列等表观基因组平台与下一代RNA测序和芯片测序联系起来。为了进一步加强该计划，我们将翻译部分作为Cobre的一个关键方面，这与我们满足北达科他州老龄化人口(主要是农村人口)需求的全球战略使命是一致的。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范例。这个中心的基本原理是，每个人都带来了独特的专业知识和关键方向，这些共同有助于阐明表观遗传变化在各种疾病模型中的作用。该中心将培养一批专注的研究人员，我们的具体目标的成功完成将导致在发展和疾病的表观基因组学领域建立一个合作和可持续的卓越中心，能够吸引最聪明和最有才华的教职员工、研究生和博士后研究员在新兴的表观遗传学领域开展世界级的研究。UD完全致力于确保这一群体的增长和可持续性，即使在科布雷赠款结束后也是如此。

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.