How is it possible that all different organs and tissues in the body contain the same DNA molecule? A publication in the renowned scientific journal PLoS Genetics of October 22 solves some of this mystery by investigating for the first time epigenetic changes during fetal development. The research of our epigenetics group led by Bas Heijmans in collaboration with the group of Susana Chuva de Sousa Lopes (Anatomy and Embryology, LUMC) shows how in each tissue, developmental genes are gradually turned off, while genes that are required are turned on.

Look no further! Our Maarten van Iterson is looking for a Bachelor's or Master's student with basic R programming skills.

To disseminate her IDEAL EU project, Eline Slagboom organises a conference at October 12-14 2015 in Leiden about "Connecting development and late life health: Epigenetic mechanisms and beyond". Please find more details at the conference website.

The department of Molecular Epidemiology is happy to announce the PhD defense of Yolande Ramos. The title of her thesis is: Osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the articular joints

Molepi will be presenting at the OsteoArthritis Research Society International (OARSI) annual world congress on Osteoarthritis 2015, held in Seattle, WA. No less than five abstracts submitted by our Osteoarthritis research group were acknowledged for presentation whereas Ingrid Meulenbelt will present as invited speaker.

Professor Hein Verspaget (LUMC) launched a BBMRI-NL work group Sample Integrity that will document the prerequisites for reliable research using biomedical biobanks. The work group consists of 10 member of which Marian Beekman is one.

The dept. of Molecular Epidemiology is proud to announce the thesis defence of Ir. Erik van den Akker, which will take place next Wednesday February 18th at 11.15 AM, in the Academic Building, Rapenburg 73, Leiden. The title of his thesis is "Computational Biology in Human Aging - An Omics Data Integration Approach".

After the thesis defence....

After publication of the epigenetics data of the Hungerwinter famine study in Nature Communication by Elmar Tobi, Roderick Slieker and Bas Heijmans. Several newspapers and weblogs paid attention to our research.

The department of Molecular Epidemiology proudly announces the publication of Elmar Tobi and Bas Heijmans in Nature Communications.

Please read our press release below:

People born during the Dutch Famine have altered regulation of growth genes

And may have helped these individuals to survive as a fetus. 

Individuals conceived and born in the severe Dutch Famine, also called the Hunger Winter, may have survived this horrendous period of World War 2 by making adaptations to how active their DNA is.  Genes involved in growth and development were differentially regulated. Researchers at the Leiden University Medical Center, Columbia University and Harvard University just published an article in Nature Communications.

The department of Molecular Epidemiology is involved in one of LUMC's 7 profiles of Medical Research, i.e. Ageing. We are happy to announce that the website of Medical Research profile Ageing is online since October 9!