CellCentric: From Imprinting to the Epigenome in 25 years

CellCentric Conference

Heritable information separate from the DNA code, was first reported 25 years ago.   Subsequent research is having a profound influence on the understanding of how cells work and how diseases can be treated.

CellCentric, the biotechnology company unlocking epigenetic control mechanisms, is hosting a conference and celebration of Imprinting and Epigenetics, at the University of Cambridge on September 4-6th 2009.  Over 40 of the global academic pioneers of the field will be speaking at the event (see www.cellcentric.com/speakers.php).

25 years ago, work from the laboratories of Azim Surani and Davor Solter reported on a new phenomenon. They demonstrated that specific regions of a cell’s genome were being marked with instructions beyond the DNA code itself. This imprint imparts information on differential gene expression, and thus helps govern what cells do. These findings were pivotal to the foundation of the whole emerging area of epigenetics.

In most cases, the epigenetic information is faithfully passed on from cell to progenitor cell; the imprint is heritable from one generation to another. When these processes go awry, disease can result. It has now been shown that mis-regulation of the epigenetic imprint plays a key role in cancer as well as other conditions including inflammatory disorders, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. This is becoming a key area for commercial research into novel therapeutics.

Prof Wolf Reik, Associate Director at the Babraham Institute and Professor of Epigenetics at the University of Cambridge, one of the academic conference organisers, commented:

“We are delighted that so many world leading researchers in epigenetics are gathering to celebrate the foundation of the field 25 years ago. There is an explosion of interest in the field – a recognition that epigenetics is fundamental to our understanding of how cells work.”

Dr Tim Fell, Chief Operating Officer of CellCentric added:

“We are very proud to organise this conference to honour the pioneers and explore the future of imprinting and epigenetics. The rapid growth of interest in the field in recent times reflects its growing relevance to the discovery of novel therapeutics.”