During the workshop, you will be introduced to the techniques of Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and Methyl CpG immunoprecipitation (MCIp). We will go through each step of both techniques and talk about optimization and potential pitfalls. You’ll be provided with everything you need at the workshop to carry through an entire chromatin and methylated DNA
immunoprecipitation experiment in a model system.
All you need to bring is a list of questions and your enthusiasm to learn
new technologies!
On Saturday, March 21st 2009, former German Federal President Roman Herzog awarded a two-year Research Stipend to 36-year old scientist Dr. Yoon Jung Park from South Korea. Dr. Park is currently investigating epigenetic changes involved in the development of chronic lymphatic leukemias, the most common form of leukemia in industrialized countries, at the Division Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors.
Congratulations!
On Sunday, May 10th 2009, five of us (Rainer, Dieter, Chris, Jitti and Julia) participated in the Mannheim Half-Marathon, and they all did really well!
Hey guys, we are proud of you!
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Christoph Plass in collaboration with scientists from Ohio State University has recently published a study on early epigenetic changes in a mouse model for CLL (chronic lymphatic leukemia), which occur long before first signs of the disease are detectable. "If this holds also true for humans, an early methylation test in high-risk individuals could provide clues about a developing cancer”, Christoph Plass says.
Reference:
Shih-Shih Chen, Aparna Raval, Amy J. Johnson, Erin Hertlein, Te-Hui Liu, Victor X. Jin, Mara Sherman, Shu-Jun Liu, David W. Dawson, Katie E. Williams, Mark Lanasa, Sandya Liyanarachchi, Thomas S. Lin, Guido Marcucci, Yuri Pekarsky, Ramana Davuluri, Carlo M. Croce, Denis C. Guttridge, Michael A. Teitell, John C. Byrd, and Christoph Plass: Epigenetic changes during disease progression in a murine model of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA, 2009, 106(32): 13433-8.
The Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) has announced the establishment of a new Priority Programme (Schwerpunktprogramm), entitled "Epigenetic Regulation of Normal Hematopoiesis and its Dysregulation in Myeloid Neoplasia". The Priority Programme will run for a period of six years and the main aim is to investigate mechanisms of epigenetic control of normal myeloid development and their disturbances in myeloid cancers, both in vitro and in vivo.
On July 1st 2009, the division's annual excursion went to Neustadt an der Weinstraße. From there, we walked to the Hambacher Schloß and enjoyed a historical staged tour of the castle and the tower. After a recreative lunch with Palatine specialties we returned to Heidelberg, slightly exhausted but in best spirits.
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