Interview: Professor Andrew Feinberg speaks to Epigenomics

Area of Science:

• Cancer Epigenetics
• Genomics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Feinberg's research career began with studies in mathematics and humanities, followed by medical degrees from Johns Hopkins University.
• Postdoctoral work in developmental biology and clinical training in medicine and medical genetics.
• Early research at Johns Hopkins led to the discovery of altered DNA methylation in human cancer.

Discussion:

• Seminal work in cancer epigenetics at the University of Michigan, including discovery of human imprinted genes and loss of imprinting in cancer.
• Investigated the molecular basis of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
• Returned to Johns Hopkins to direct the Center for Epigenetics, a Center of Excellence in Genome Sciences.

Key Insights:

• Pioneering genome-scale tools in molecular, statistical, and epidemiological epigenetics.
• Application of epigenetic tools to study cancer, neuropsychiatric disease, and aging.
• Invented widely used molecular tools, such as random priming.

Outlook:

• The Center for Epigenetics is developing innovative programs to engage minority high school students in genetics and genomics.
• Continued research focus on applying advanced epigenetic tools to complex diseases.
• Feinberg's contributions have been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including election to prestigious scientific societies.