2nd MLFPM Summer School: Gabriele Schweikert
Channel: MLFPM ITN
Date: 21/12/2020

Second Summer School "Machine Learning Frontiers in Precision Medicine", September 21-23, 2020

Gabriele Schweikert (University of Dundee & University of Tübingen): Machine Learning for Cancer Epigenomics

In this talk we will start with a comprehensive introduction to epigenomic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, chromatin remodelling and post-translational Histone modifications. All these processes play their part in packaging and organizing the DNA molecule; they are vital for cellular differentiation and normal development and just as crucial in maintaining a specified cellular identify once cells have committed to a certain fate. Many steady-state epigenomic modifications are remarkably well correlated with transcriptional activity. However, in most cases their causal roles in the regulation of gene expression remain enigmatic.

Aberrant changes in epigenomic patterns have been observed to be hall-marks of tumorigenesis in all human cancers making them promising biomarkers for tumor development and treatment response. Additionally, genes coding for chromatin remodelers and epigenetic writers harbour some of the most frequently occurring mutations in cancer and epigenetic-targeted therapy has viable therapeutic potential for several tumor types in preclinical and clinical trials.

Here we examine the challenges that dynamic epigenomic data pose to the analysis with machine learning technology and the emerging opportunities for translational epigenomics. A particular interest is on how the interaction of epigenomic signals with other parts of the cellular machinery can be included in a mechanistic model.

The summer school is part of the H2020 Marie Curie Innovative Training Network "Machine Learning Frontiers in Precision Medicine" (https://mlfpm.eu). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 813533.