Control of Gene Expression

BIOGRAPHY

CURRENT POSITION:
Senior Group Leader, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (Part of the Novartis Research Foundation)

EDUCATION:
1985 PhD, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg
1980 BSc, University of Geneva, Geneva

HONOURS:
2009- Chair, BIO 1 Panel of the Academy of Finland (Research Council for Biosciences and Environment)
2009- President of the Forum for Genetic Research, Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences
2007-2008 BIO 2 Panel of the Academy of Finland
2006 Opponent, University of Turku
2006 Titular Professor, University of Basel
2004-2008 Treasurer, Swiss Society for Cellular and Molecular Biology
1989-1990 Swiss National Science Foundation Senior Fellowship
1985 EMBO Long-Term Fellowship

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Stem cells give rise to differentiated cells through gradual establishment of lineage-specific gene expression programs. These result from a complex interplay of signal transduction cascades, genetic hierarchies of transcription factors and epigenetic chromatin modifiers. This creates a molecular code unique to each cell type that defines its properties and fate.

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular plasticity and cell-specific gene expression in a genetically tractable system and concentrate on the transcriptional and epigenetic control of lymphoid (B) cell development. For this, we study several transcription factors and epigenetic regulators that may be relevant for B cell development.

In addition, we have a central focus on histone deacetylases (HDACs). Acetylation of histones represents a crucial epigenetic annotation of chromatin, which participates significantly in the regulation of gene expression. In addition, non-histone protein acetylation is involved in an expanding range of cellular processes. HDACs remove acetyl groups from histone N-terminal tails and thereby contribute to chromatin condensation and to the modulation of gene expression. Although the biological role of HDACs in mammals is still poorly understood, it is clear that these proteins are important in cancer as well as in various other diseases such as autoimmunity or neurodegeneration. HDACs therefore are valuable potential therapeutic targets in a number of pathological settings.