EpiCrossBorders Inaugural Symposium Friday 22nd April 2022
EpiCrossBorders an exciting collaborative PhD programme setup between Helmholtz Munich and the University Edinburgh. We are delighted to say that we have recruited our first PhD students and we are now organising our Inaugural Symposium at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute Genetics and Cancer in to promote the programme. Read more...
EpiCrossBorders: a truly International Research School Program
We are proud to announce new Epigenetics Across Borders: International Helmholtz-Edinburgh Research School for Epigenetics (EpiCrossBorders). This new program is the next step in the development of the Helmholtz International Epigenetics Research School. Though the EpiCrossBorders Program we are able to offer a truly international graduate program, with projects that are international collaborations an exchange program, a customizable curriculum and support in the development of your career.
Here you can find more inforation about this exciting new Program!
'One Health' and the field of epigenetics

We are all connected! Not just people, but all organisms and their environment! For example, disruptions in environmental conditions and habitats can have great influence on species composition, the spread of diseases or food production. Thus to obtain optimal health outcomes we need a collaborative, multisectoral and transdisciplinary approach and multiple scales that recognizes the interconnections between all species: the ‘One Health’ approach.
But what are the mechanisms behind the interactions between species and their environment? And how can we study them?
A major interface of the interconnections between species and their environment is through epigenetic processes. Epigenetic mechanisms allow cells to react to their direct environment and adjust gene expression programms. Thus as individual cells and organisms shape their environment so may the environment shape gene expression profiles of individual cells and organisms via epigenetic mechanisms. Our understanding of these processes is crucial to improve our understanding of e.g. the development of common diseases (such as diabetes and cancer) or to better understand and predict the consequences of climate change.
This puts the multidisciplinary field of epigenetics at the heart of the 'One Health' approach to address major current and future challenges!
Beyond research: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Different views and diverse cultural backgrounds bring about great opportunities to allow all of us to enrich our experiences and grow personally. Diversity as such is a source of inspiration and creativity, and hence a driving force towards innovation and making a difference in life. More...