Epigenetic mechanisms in brain development, function and disease - master or servant? Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and ncRNAs have proven to have a great gene regulatory potential, since they are implicated in processes which orchestrate neuro-development, neuronal function and associated disease. Moreover, it has been shown that epigenetic signatures are responsive to environmental stimuli, such as nerve injury, stress or changes in neuronal activity. Herein they provide an attractive hypothesis as for how environmental information is integrated into our genome. Building on this idea, epigenetic-based therapies have been proposed as potential treatment strategies for neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. However, it is unclear to what extend they represent causes or consequences, a perpetual conundrum which we would like to address in this lecture series. With this new virtual lecture series, we aim to encourage a vivid discussion on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in functioning as a truly independent layer of gene regulation („master“) or as a bystander to an underlying genetic code which even dictates if and how the epigenome will have to respond to environmental stimuli („servant“). Likewise, we will address the crucial nexus of how current and future research into epigenetic function in health and disease may overcome these limitations. This lecture series will be launched with a symposium, featuring leading international experts in the field of neuroepigenetics.

World Wide Neuro

Business Year

Neuroepigenetics Series

Alessandro Sessa

Sara Zocher

Jennifer Erwin

Toda Tomohisa

Tanja Vogel

Kiran Girdhar

Tran Tuoc

Julia Schulze-Hentrich

Amara Plaza-Jennings

Jill Escher

Francesca Telese

Boyan Bonev

Valérie Hilgers

Mareike Albert

Elizabeth Heller

Marija Kundakovic

Geraldine Zimmer-Bensch

Stefan Stricker

Andre Fischer

Minoo Rassoulzadegan

Schahram Akbarian

Opening remarks