Axel Schumacher

Dr. Axel Schumacher, born , is a German epigenetics researcher. He invented the first microarray technologies for epigenetic biomarker discovery, developed the ‘epigenetic theory of aging’ with his research leading to the worldwide first proof of whole genome epigenetic abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease.
Alongside his work as a scientist he is a published author, a futurologist and as of July 2017, CEO and co-founder of the HLTH.network.
== Education and Early Life ==
Dr. Schumacher was born in Kreuztal/Germany in 1969. Schumacher graduated with a PhD in Biology from University of Cologne under the supervision of Rober Koch Prize laureate Prof. Walter Doerfler in 2002. 
== Career ==
=== Epigenetics ===
Schumacher started his career in epigenetics as a visiting researcher at the laboratory of Wolf Reik at the Babraham Institute near Cambridge, England working on DNA methylation and genomic imprinting.
During his career he made several breakthrough discoveries including, how genomic imprinting is regulated by DNA methylation , the effect of in vitro manipulation on imprinted regions in the genome, the first description of ‘epigenetic SNPs’, the invention of single-cell epigenomics, with his research leading to the world's first proof of whole genome epigenetic abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease, indicating that the main predisposing factors for Alzheimer’s disease, PSEN1|PSEN and Apolipoprotein E|APOE, have a high interindividual variation in humans, which could indicate they are prone to epigenetic abnormalities. 
Schumacher invented the technology of ‘epigenetic microarrays’, a technology that transformed the research field and led to hundreds of research discoveries across the world, including the the worldwide the first proof of whole genome epigenetic changes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. 
In 2010, Schumacher proposed the ‘epigenetic theory of aging’ a new unifying model of aging and the development of complex diseases, incorporating classical aging theories and epigenetics. His work on epigenetic drift and age-related epigenetic changes in mice and humans laid the foundation to the epigenetic clock theory of aging. 
=== Blockchain Technology ===
Dr. Schumacher at GES Summit 2019 with former US secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Mayor Pauline Krikke, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Schumacher at GES Summit 2019 with former US secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Mayor Pauline Krikke, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Dr. Schumacher is one of the pioneers of blockchain. In July 2017, Dr. Axel Schumacher co-founded HLTH.network alongside George Church (geneticist)|Dr. George Church and Gourish Singla with the aim of developing the world's first base layer protocol for global health data. Currently, Axel operates as HLTH.network's CEO. 
He is the author of the popular 'Blockchain & Healthcare Strategy Guide'. Dr. Schumacher is also a researcher at the Blockchain Research Institute in Toronto, the world’s leading Blockchain Think Tank.
=== Other Work ===
During the 1990’s, Schumacher worked as comic book author and artist. Among others he worked alongside famous artists such as Russian painter Oleg Yudin on titles such as 'High Speed' and on various stories for the American science fiction and fantasy comics magazine Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal.
== Late Night Science Show ==
Since 2020, Axel has been the host of the popular Late Night Science Show. He has had many prestigious guests such as Charles Hoskinson, Ben Goertzel and George Church (geneticist)|George Church. The podcast discusses the "wonders of science" and spreads the "word about the way of acquiring knowledge that has characterized our species development since the 17th century."
 
Category:German scientists
Category:1969 births
Category:German people