Beckman Research Institute
Department of Molecular Medicine
Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facilities

Epigenomics Workshop

Monday, May 23, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Cooper Auditorium
1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010

Registration Registration is free, but required!
Registration deadline：May 13th, 2011
Registration includes lunch and one entry to the drawing

Questions or to cancel your registration please contact Amanda at 626.256.4673 x61736 or by email at amcmichael@coh.org.

INTRODUCTION

The Functional Genomics and the Bioinformatics Core Facilities, Department of Molecular Medicine at Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope（COH）Comprehensive Cancer Center, are pleased to present this workshop, in cooperation with Illumina, Roche, and Partek as a forum for epigenomics studies on human diseases, particularly on cancer using the novel genome-wide DNA methylation profiling technologies.

Epigenomics is the genome-wide study of epigenetic elements and it deals with "genomics maps of stable, yet reprogrammable nuclear changes that control gene expression and influence our health". Epigenetics describes the study of heritable changes in gene function that occur without a change in the nuclear DNA sequence. In addition to RNA-associated silencing and histone modification, a major epigenetic mechanism in eukaryotes is DNA methylation. Methylation of DNA occurs on cytosine residues, especially on CpG dinucleotides enriched in small regions of DNA. These regions, with a GC content greater than 55%, are known as CpG islands. They are usually clustered around the regulatory region of genes and can affect the transcriptional regulation of these genes. Methylation of CpG islands by DNA methylases throughout genome has been shown to be associated with gene inactivation and plays an important role in the development of cancer. Reversal of DNA methylation at these sites is a potential therapeutic strategy as this reversal may restore expression of transcriptionally silenced genes.

This Workshop will include feature presentations given by internationally recognized experts in genomics and epigenomics, i.e., Mining the Cancer Methylome, by Dr. Peter W. Laird who will discuss the application of Illumina’s HumanMethylation27 Beadchips and HumanMethylation 450k Beadchip as well as whole genome shotgun bisulfite sequencing techniques to determine the entire methylome at single-base pair resolution of a primary colorectal adenocarcinoma and matching histologically normal mucosa; DNA Methylation Patterns in Siblings with and without Asthma, by Dr. Ivana V. Yang who will talk about the application of the Roche NimbleGen Comprehensive High-throughput Arrays for Relative Methylation（CHARM）profiling to determine the epigenetic mechanisms and etiology of asthma; Beyond the MAQC-A Regulatory Science View by FDA, by Dr. Weida Tong who will discuss how MAQC and other related projects at FDA address key challenges and opportunities in regulatory science using the examples of the projects developed at the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research（NCTR）. In addition, Dr. Charles Wang, Director of the Functional Genomics Core and Dr. Yate-Ching Yuan, Director of the Bioinformatics Core at City of Hope will give a brief core technology update about the functional genomics and bioinformatics at COH, respectively.

The general public is invited. Opportunities for Q and A and audience interaction are valued and encouraged. Boxed lunches will be served to pre-registrants.

PROGRAM

• 9:00 a.m.
  • Registration and morning refreshments coffee
• 10:00 a.m.
  • Open Remarks Richard Jove, Ph.D.
    Director, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope,
    Duarte, CA, USA
• 10:10 a.m.
  • Charles Wang, M.D, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Director, Functional Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute, City of
    Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
    Functional Genomics Core at COH：Technology Update
• 10:25 a.m.
  • Peter W. Laird, Ph.D.
    Director, Epigenome Center, University of Southern California, Los
    Angeles, CA, USA
    Mining the Cancer Methylome
• 11:05 a.m.
  • Weida Tong, Ph.D.
    Director, Center for Bioinformatics, National Center for Toxicological
    Research, FDA, Jefferson, AR, USA
    Beyond the MAQC-A Regulatory Science View by FDA
• 11:45 a.m.
  • Yate-Ching Yuan, Ph.D.
    Director, Bioinformatics Core, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope,
    Duarte, CA, USA
    Bioinformatics Core at COH：Technology Update
• 12:00 p.m.
  • LUNCH and 1st Drawing
• 1:00 p.m.
  • Ivana V. Yang, Ph.D.
    Deputy Director, Center for Genes, Environment, and Health, National
    Jewish Health and University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
    DNA Methylation Patterns in Siblings with and without Asthma
• 1:40 p.m.
  • Concluding Remarks David A. Horne, Ph.D.
    Chairman, Department of Molecular Medicine, Beckman Research
    Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
• 1:45 p.m.
  • 2nd Drawing
• 2:00 p.m.
  • Adjournment

Sponsors