Hans BjörnssonAssistant Professor, McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine Contact Information733 N Broadway, BRB435 Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. Baltimore, MD 21205 Phone: (410) 502-0056 Fax: (410) 614-9246 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: Research InterestsEpigenetic modifications offer one plausible way that the environment (both external and internal) can directly affect gene expression. Epigenetic modifications have also been known to minimize disease states by buffering the impact of genetic variants (i.e. Agouti viable yellow mouse model). Our laboratory is interested in developing epigenetic treatment strategies to minimize disease mortality and morbidity caused by genetic mutations. We feel that a logical first place to test epigenetic therapeutic strategies is to develop therapies for specific Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery. Dr. Bjornsson has recently initiated a clinic that focuses on caring for patients with epigenetic disorders, including the imprinting disorders and Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery. In addition to learning from the patients we care for and working towards therapies for these patients we hope to learn some fundamental truths about epigenetics. We are interested in: 1. Exploring the epigenomic impact of various Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery; 2. Epigenetic therapeutic development with focus on developing therapies for disorders of the histone machinery and imprinting disorders;3. Exploring the usefulness of the epigenomic biomarker to monitor disease states or treatment effects Selected PublicationsSigurdsson MI, Smith AV, Bjornsson HT, Jonsson JJ. The distribution of a germline methylation marker suggests a regional mechanism of
Sigurdsson MI, Smith AV, Bjornsson HT, Jonsson JJ. HapMap methylation-associated SNPs, markers of germline
Bjornsson HT, Sigurdsson MI, Fallin MD, Irizarry RA, Aspelund T, Cui H, Yu W, Rongione MA, Ekström TJ, Harris TB, Launer LJ, Eiriksdottir G, Leppert MF, Sapienza C, Gudnason V, Feinberg AP. Intra-individual change over time in Bjornsson HT, Albert TJ, Ladd-Acosta CM, Bjornsson HT, Brown LJ, Fallin MD, Rongione MA, Bibikova M, Wickham E, Fan JB, Feinberg AP. Epigenetic specificity of loss of imprinting of the IGF2 gene in Wilms tumors. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007 Aug 15;99(16):1270-3. PMID:17686827 Bjornsson HT, Fallin MD, Feinberg AP. An integrated epigenetic and genetic approach to common human disease. Trends Genet. 2004 Aug;20(8):350-8. PMID: 15262407 |
