Division of Epigenetic and Transcriptional Engineering
Epigenetic abnormality has been recognized as one of the critical features in cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. The Division of Epigenetic and Transcriptional Engineering in the Department of Systems Biology aims to develop novel technologies to investigate mammalian chromatin structure and epigenetic gene regulation.
Functional epigenomics
Assessing the roles of epigenetic effectors (writers, erasers, and readers of epigenetic modifications) in multiple cancer types using high-throughput functional genomic screens, including CRISPR knockout, CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) libraries.
Chromatin and epigenetic analyses
Investigating the epigenetic signatures using a combination of high-throughput sequencing technologies including ChIP-seq, RNA-seq and ATAC-seq. We will further develop single-cell sequencing strategies (scChIP-seq, scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, etc.) to investigate epigenetic mechanisms in cancer stem cells and therapeutic resistance.
Precision epigenome editing
Supported by NIH/NCI funding, we are developing novel chromatin targeting systems for locus-specific epigenome editing.