Epigenetic Consortium Research

In the flow of genetic information from the genome to the transcriptome, epigenetic regulation plays a critical role in modulating the expression of genotypes to phenotypes in a tissue specific and temporarily specific manner. Epigenetic regulation can take place in the methylation of DNA, covalent modifications of histone, or interactions between nucleosome and DNA.

DNA methylation is the most stable form of epigenetic modification that leads to transcriptional silencing, X chromosome inactivation and imprinting.

Obtaining genome-scale patterns of DNA methylation in different normal and disease tissues are critical for understanding the developmental processes as well as the etiology of many pathologic states including autism and cancer.

Funding

P50 HD093540 (PI: Georg) 09/15/2017 – 03/31/2021

NIH/NICHD $1,928,523 (per year)

Contraceptive Discovery, Development, and Behavioral Research Center

Major Goals: The Center is focused on the discovery of male contraceptive agents targeting the RAR-alpha receptor, BRDT and TSSK1 and understanding contraceptive behavior.

FRD #19.23 (PI: Chen, Co-PI: Gordon) 02/01/2020-01/31/2022

OACA Faculty Research Development

Mechanisms and Clinical Insights to Target the Oncogenic Proline Hydroxylation Pathway in AML

R01NS099178 (PI: Tran, Co-I: Chen) 07/01/2017-06/30/2022

NIH/NINDS $214,218 ($44,218 Chen lab)

Roles of Iron-Dependent PHD and JARID in Early-Life Iron Deficiency-Induced Adult Neural Gene Dysregulation

Role: Co-I (10% effort)

R01CA248019-01A1 (PI: Liu) 12/01/2020-11/30/2025

NCI/NIH

R03CA186176-01A1 (PI: Liu) 07-01-2016-06-30-2019

NCI/NIH

2PTTP Grants from Hormel Institute (PI: Liu)

Regulation of 5hmC loss during retinoblastoma initiation for novel therapeutic opportunities

Masonic Cross-Departmental Grant, Tim Hallstrom (PI), PhD & Natalia Tretyakova (Co-PI), PhD (FY20)

This will provide a detailed molecular map of the early 5hmC-related epigenetic changes in retinal development in contrast with retinoblastoma initiation. Similar studies in other cancers have identified unexpected, effective therapy targets.

2R01 CA095039-10 12/01/2002 – 08/31/2022

NIH/NCI

Smoking-Induced Epigenetic Changes in the Lung: Role of DNA Demethylation

This application will investigate the effects of cigarette smoke and smoking-associated inflammation

on the dynamics of DNA methylation and demethylation in the lung and elucidate the mechanisms by

which gene expression patterns can be affected in smokers and individuals exposed to second hand

smoke.

PI: Natalia Tretyakova

Developing a Selective BRD4 inhibitor as an Epigenetic Anti-Cancer Therapeutic 6/1/20-5/31/21

UMN Office of Discovery and Translation Grant $50,000

PI: Pomerantz and Topczewski)

Chemical Probe Design for Dissecting BRD4-Transcription Factor Interactions 1/1/20-6/30/21

UMN Grant in Aid $30,000

PI: William Pomerantz

Domain Selective BET Bromodomain Inhibitors of Epigenetic and 1/1/18-12/31/18

Kinase Signaling” $100,000

Pre-R01 Pilot Grant, Masonic Cancer Center

Co-PIs: William Pomerantz and Dan Harki

Dissecting the Molecular Mechanisms of the p300/CBP 8/1/2019-7/30/2022

Interactome Using Protein-Observed 19F NMR $282,092 Direct

NSF CHE-1904071

PI: William Pomerantz

Targeting BPTF in the Therapy of BRAF-mutant Melanoma 4/1/17-3/22/22

NIH NCI-R01 Co-I total $354,976

PI: Mohammed Kashani-Sabet

Co-I: William Pomerantz

Defining the Role of BPTF Epigenetic Reader Domains in Cancer 2/1/17-1/30/21

NIH NIGMS: 1R01GM121414-01 $1,256,467

PI: William Pomerantz