Epigenetics workshops

Many epilepsies remain unexplained after exome or genome sequencing. This workshop investigates mechanisms that conventional testing may miss: somatic mosaicism, repeat expansions, epigenetic changes and microRNA regulation. It relates biological and technical detection limits to neuronal excitability, clinical heterogeneity and treatment resistance. Thematic presentations and an interactive panel address multi-omics study design, clinical phenotyping, biomarkers and therapeutic development, connecting molecular mechanisms to precision medicine and surgical decisions. Sunday 6 December, 08:30–10:00 Mountain Standard Time (America/Denver). Part of the 2026 American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. In-person meeting registration and a free myAES account are required. Standard full-meeting rates are USD 800 for member scientists and USD 1,075 for non-member scientists; student rates are USD 250 and USD 360, respectively. Other professional and one-day categories are available. Seating priority goes to registered attendees.

Study gene regulation by processing and integrating RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, MNase-seq, ChIP-seq and Hi-C measurements. The five workshop days cover expression analysis, chromatin accessibility, chromatin composition, three-dimensional genome interactions and multi-omics integration. Practical work includes quality control, alignment, differential expression, peak and motif analysis, and visualisation of genomic contacts. Reproducible Linux and R notebooks connect assay design to biological interpretation. Live online, 22–26 February, 13:00–19:00 Europe/Berlin (CET). Fee €480. Participants need a biology background, familiarity with sequencing formats, basic R and previous Unix command-line experience.

The programme follows memory mechanisms from molecular and cellular processes through synapses, microcircuits and distributed brain networks. It connects engram formation and synaptic plasticity with encoding, consolidation, persistence and flexibility. Sessions examine transcriptional, translational, epigenetic and RNA regulation, together with neuromodulation, before considering circuit vulnerability and memory disruption in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Novel methods and unresolved questions connect the different biological scales. A satellite symposium on synapses and cognition takes place on 26 April. On-site and virtual participation are available; applicants submit an abstract or a brief statement of interest and are selected for scientific relevance.

This workshop connects cellular mechanics and three-dimensional genome regulation with machine learning. It examines how mechanical environments activate transcription factors, move regulatory molecules into nuclei, couple the cytoskeleton to nuclear architecture, alter chromatin dynamics and influence genome maintenance and disease. High-resolution imaging, live-cell tracking, engineered microenvironments, ultrasensitive detection, single-cell and spatial omics, and computational models provide complementary approaches. Physicists, engineers, computer scientists, biologists and clinicians will discuss how these methods can reveal causal links between nuclear mechanics and gene regulation.

The workshop examines RNA modifications through fundamental mechanisms, emerging methods and clinical applications. Topics connect modification mapping with single-cell and spatial approaches, direct RNA sequencing and computational analysis, alongside current conceptual and methodological debates.

The workshop examines conserved and divergent features of chromatin across life. Researchers connect genome-wide maps with phylogenomics, structure, molecular genetics and cell biology to study the origins and constraints of chromatin organization and regulation.