Science Researcher Update: Spotlight on Meetings, Conferences, and Events

This two-day intensive boot camp integrates the principle concepts of epigenetics and the effects of risk factors on the epigenome as we step through the key components of designing and executing DNA methylation studies. Led by a team of scientists with more than 31 years of combined expertise in the field of environmental epigenetics, the workshop will integrate seminar lectures with hands-on computer sessions to put concepts into practice. Emphasis will be given to leveraging existing resources from ongoing studies and initiating new investigations. The afternoon lab sessions will provide an opportunity to work hands-on with real methylation data generated by the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC (850k) BeadChip platform. Participants will learn and practice data handling, cleaning, and basic analysis of epigenome-wide DNA methylation data.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be familiar with the following topics:

• Principles of epigenetics
• Concept ideation and study design
• Sample collection and processing
• Laboratory methods and platforms for analysis
• Data handling and cleaning
• Data analysis
• Study design advantages and pitfalls
• Emerging epigenetic topics and laboratory platforms

Investigators at all career stages are welcome to attend, and we particularly encourage trainees and early-stage investigators to participate.