Our approach to achieve this goal includes the development of cutting-age technologies—both experimental and computational—for mapping and visualizing the topological structures of the genome in single cells with single molecule resolution, and for revealing the genome regulatory function. We have pioneered 3D genome mapping technologies, and we are now leading a new breakthrough in developing the next generation of these technologies.

We envision that the core of the proposed center will develop advanced 3D epigenomic technologies (Tech dev) and supporting analysis tools (Computational) to unravel the fundamental mechanisms of gene transcription regulation at molecular level (Molecular mechanism). We will apply the most advanced 3D genomic concepts and technologies to address a wide range of biological questions with a focus on mouse models, including early embryogenesis, epigenetic reprogramming, cardiogenesis, immunogenesis, carcinogenesis, neurogenesis, regeneration, the retinal system, and genetic diversity through collaborations with various JAX research groups and the large biomedical community. We anticipate that the fundamental knowledge of 3D genome biology generated from mouse models will have profound impacts on human biology and relevant diseases. Therefore, we will extend our studies of 3D genome biology to human ES cell differentiation, human hematopoietic lineage of blood cells, PDX of human tumors.

Fundamentally, we want to be able to read the 3D genomes in every single cell; ultimately, we want to develop novel approaches to manipulate or “re-write” the 3D genomes in given targeted cells, and thus to alter biological traits and cure diseases.