City of Hope soon will host the 17th Annual Beckman Symposium, this year focusing on alterations in chromosome structure known as epigenetic changes.

“The Changing Face of Chromatin: The Epigenome and Epiproteome,” will be held in Cooper Auditorium from 8:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. on Nov. 9.

It will include a historical overview by Art Riggs, Ph.D., director of Beckman Research Institute and a pioneer in the field of epigenetics, followed by talks by world experts reporting recent findings relevant to chemical alterations in DNA and DNA-binding proteins. Many of these changes are associated with cancer and other diseases.

The symposium is supported by the Beckman Endowment and organized annually by the Research Staff Organization of City of Hope. This year’s organizers include Gerd Pfeifer, Ph.D., Wen Yong Chen, Ph.D., Rama Natarajan, Ph.D., Judith Singer-Sam, Ph.D., and Piroska Szabo, Ph.D.

The symposium, which includes lunch, is free, but participants must register in advance by Oct. 14. Program information and online registration are available at www.cityofhope.org/beckmansymposium.