Environmental Epigenomics, Imprinting and Disease Susceptibility

Abstract

On Tuesday, November 2, 2005 over 450 scientists representing 14 nations converged on the Washington Duke Inn, Durham, NC, USA to discuss, learn and exchange information on how environmental influences can exert impacts on health not only on the individual that has been exposed but also for up to four subsequent generations in some human and animal models tested. The meeting entitled “Environmental Epigenomics, Imprinting and Disease Susceptibility” was sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. The meeting featured presentations from many of the leading authorities/experts in epigenomics in the world and approximately 70 poster presentations, of which twelve were selected for oral presentation. The meeting was organized into nine scientific sessions spread over two and a half days that addressed the fetal basis of disease, epigenetics and gene regulation, epigenetics and cancer, therapeutic and reproductive cloning, stem cell differentiation, epigenetics and chronic diseases and epigenetics and neurodevelopment. The opening session introduced the meeting co-organizers, Randy Jirtle of Duke University Medical Center and Frederick Tyson of NIEHS, to conference participants and included greetings from. Christopher Willett, Chair of Duke Radiation Oncology Department, and William Schlessinger, Dean of the Nicolas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. David Schwartz, Director of the NIEHS, set the tone for the conference with an overview lecture that identified research priorities of the NIEHS and pointed out the intersections between the environmental genomics component of NIEHS priorities and the environmental epigenomics. He noted that NIEHS research priorities will emphasize and coordinate efforts aimed at the study of complex human diseases. The environmental genomics infrastructural resources developed by NIEHS including over 500 re-sequenced environmentally responsive genes, over 50 humanized mouse strains, and progress towards establishing gene expression standards are available for utilization in the integration of epigenomic studies and the analysis of complex human diseases. Just as epigenomics is becoming increasingly more important in Schwartz’s own asthma research, this conference identified additional opportunities for the integration of environmental epigenomics and complex human disease.