Exploring Epigenetics : an extraordinarily promising field of medicine

Unravelling the complex mechanisms that govern gene expression

"We are at the dawn of a new age of genomic medicine", Dr. Iannis Talianadis points out. "If we want to fully reap the benefits of genomics for human health, there is a growing realization that knowledge of DNA must be complemented by a detailed understanding of how gene expression is controlled". The aim of the AXA Chair on Epigenetics is precisely to shed light on this crucial biological mechanisms, whose true nature remains largely obscure. Indeed, during his previous work, Dr. Iannis Talianadis found that the mechanisms behind epigenetic modifiers were more complex than was previously thought. These findings opened new avenues in the field of epigenetic control with the potential to generate transforming discoveries. With the AXA Chair on Epigenetics, Dr. Iannis Talianadis aims to further investigate the newly found regulatory mechanisms he uncovered in order to obtain a more comprehensive picture. Along with the team of promising researchers he pulled together, they will study these processes in normal physiological conditions and under disease conditions. Their focus will be on two age-related diseases in particular, metabolic syndrome and liver cancer, whose link with epigenetics have been established.
By developing a leading research division devoted to explore new avenues in the epigenetics basis of liver cancer and metabolic syndrome, Dr. Talianadis' research will contribute to the development of innovative therapeutical tools for the benefit of patients suffering from these diseases. His findings will have tremendous implications for genetic medicine in general, providing insight into largely unchartered but crucial territory. Moreover, the objective of the AXA Chair in Epigenetics will also be to build up the next generation of epigenetics researchers and to raise public awareness about the importance and potential of the field.