On October 26, 150 members of the Duke medical and science community met in the Schiciano auditorium for the first Duke Epigenetics and Epigenomics Program (DEEP) colloquium.
Fifteen departments in the school of medicine were represented, along with seven of Duke’s research centers as well as the university’s departments of biology, chemistry, engineering and mathematics.
“We were expecting 60 or 70 so the DEEP committee was very pleased with the turn out,” said Simon Gregory, PhD, associate professor of medicine (Medical Genetics). Gregory is the director of DEEP, the new interdisciplinary program aimed to connect basic and translation science through the shared study of epigenetics and epigenomics.
“It’s apparent that there’s a percolating movement towards epigenetics and epigenomic research at Duke, “said Gregory. “We’re getting everyone in one room together so they can share different types of insight.”
Gregory, who has been at Duke for eight years, explained that four or five years ago, researchers were beginning to see that DNA variation didn’t provide all the answers for curing or understanding disease. Instead, epigenetics, which studies non-DNA sequenced based changes in gene expression due to environment, can help further illustrate the mechanisms of complex disease. Gregory, whose own work includes epigenetic research into autism, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and drug-response, said the study of epigenetics ultimately proves that, “getting some answers will lead to more questions.”
The problem is how best to answer those questions if you’re a translational researcher without bioinformatics know-how. That’s where DEEP comes in.
“At Duke we have all the pieces needed, the basic science, the translational, the bioinformatics,” said Gregory. “It’s just a matter of putting those puzzle pieces together.”
Besides upcoming monthly meetings, DEEP also features a website, where scientists can post research, peruse an intranet, check out DEEP’s Twitter feed (@DukeDEEP), and see profiles of researcher’s interests at Duke.
“DEEP is not housed in one center or institute, so it’s truly interdisciplinary,” said Gregory. “It’s Duke-wide.”
Gregory’s co-director at DEEP is Beth Sullivan, assistant professor of molecular genetics and microbiology. The executive committee also includes Susan Murphy, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and pathology; Ann West, MD, PhD, principle investigatory in neurobiology; and Sally Kornbluth. PhD,.
James B. Duke professor of pharmacology and cancer viology
and vice dean for basic research.
“We were expecting 60 or 70 so the DEEP committee was very pleased with the turn out,” said Simon Gregory, PhD, associate professor of medicine (Medical Genetics). Gregory is the director of DEEP, the new interdisciplinary program aimed to connect basic and translation science through the shared study of epigenetics and epigenomics.
“It’s apparent that there’s a percolating movement towards epigenetics and epigenomic research at Duke, “said Gregory. “We’re getting everyone in one room together so they can share different types of insight.”
Gregory, who has been at Duke for eight years, explained that four or five years ago, researchers were beginning to see that DNA variation didn’t provide all the answers for curing or understanding disease. Instead, epigenetics, which studies non-DNA sequenced based changes in gene expression due to environment, can help further illustrate the mechanisms of complex disease. Gregory, whose own work includes epigenetic research into autism, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and drug-response, said the study of epigenetics ultimately proves that, “getting some answers will lead to more questions.”
The problem is how best to answer those questions if you’re a translational researcher without bioinformatics know-how. That’s where DEEP comes in.
“At Duke we have all the pieces needed, the basic science, the translational, the bioinformatics,” said Gregory. “It’s just a matter of putting those puzzle pieces together.”
Besides upcoming monthly meetings, DEEP also features a website, where scientists can post research, peruse an intranet, check out DEEP’s Twitter feed (@DukeDEEP), and see profiles of researcher’s interests at Duke.
“DEEP is not housed in one center or institute, so it’s truly interdisciplinary,” said Gregory. “It’s Duke-wide.”
Gregory’s co-director at DEEP is Beth Sullivan, assistant professor of molecular genetics and microbiology. The executive committee also includes Susan Murphy, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and pathology; Ann West, MD, PhD, principle investigatory in neurobiology; and Sally Kornbluth. PhD,.
James B. Duke professor of pharmacology and cancer viology
and vice dean for basic research.