The 9th Annual Chromatin and Epigenetics Symposium brought together researchers, faculty and trainees from UNC‑Chapel Hill and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) for a full day of scientific exchange on March 12 at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
This year’s symposium featured platform talks, a poster session and networking opportunities focused on chromatin dynamics, epigenetic regulation and emerging research technologies. The event drew a strong turnout and showcased outstanding work from graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, underscoring the strength and growing depth of epigenetics research across the UNC community.
Trainee research takes center stage
A hallmark of this year’s symposium was the high quality of trainee presentations. Selected from submitted abstracts, platform talks highlighted cutting‑edge research from UNC and NIEHS trainees spanning fundamental chromatin biology, epigenetic inheritance and innovative experimental approaches.
A poster session and reception inside the Genetic Medicine Building at UNC-Chapel Hill followed the symposium, providing additional opportunities for discussion and collaboration. Together, these presentations reflected the interdisciplinary nature of epigenetics research and emphasized the symposium’s role in supporting early‑career scientists through visibility, feedback and scientific exchange.
Keynote address by leader in epigenetics
This year’s symposium keynote address was delivered by Shiv Grewal, PhD, a Distinguished Investigator at the National Cancer Institute and chief of the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the National Institute of Health (NIH). Grewal is internationally recognized for his pioneering discoveries in heterochromatin formation and epigenetic inheritance.
His presentation highlighted foundational principles of chromatin biology and drew on decades of work that have shaped current understanding of how epigenetic states are established, maintained and inherited. Grewal’s contributions to the field include landmark discoveries linking RNA interference to heterochromatin assembly — research that has been recognized by Science magazine as a “Breakthrough of the Year.”
A growing chromatin and epigenetics community at UNC-Chapel Hill
The annual symposium is a central activity of UNC’s Chromatin and Epigenetics Program, a campus‑wide research initiative that brings together more than 40 faculty members studying epigenetic mechanisms across diverse biological and disease contexts. The program fosters collaboration, training and innovation in chromatin biology, with a strong emphasis on student and trainee development.
This year’s event also gave focus to the recently launched Chromatin and Epigenetics Certificate Program at UNC, which offers doctoral students advanced training in epigenetic mechanisms and experimental approaches. As part of the certificate requirements, students participate in Carolina Chromatin Consortium seminars and annual symposiums such as this one, gaining opportunities to present their work and engage with leaders in the field.
By highlighting trainee research alongside established investigators, the Chromatin and Epigenetics Symposium continues to serve as a cornerstone event for UNC’s epigenetics community — advancing scientific discovery while preparing the next generation of researchers in this rapidly evolving field.