MPS: Danny Leung - Deciphering the epigenomic impacts of repetitive elements: How do retroviruses control our genes?

Max Planck Seminar

Date: May 12, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Speaker: Danny Chi Yeu Leung
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Location: MPI-IE
Room: Iovino Seminar Room
Host: Nicola Iovino

MPS: Danny Leung - Deciphering the epigenomic impacts of repetitive elements: How do retroviruses control our genes?

Danny Leung is the lead investigator for the Hong Kong Epigenome project and serves as director of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Center for Epigenomics Research. He is currently an associate professor in the Division of Life Science, HKUST. His lab’s research focuses on the interplay between epigenetic pathways in the regulation of non-coding DNA.

“Mammalian genomes consist mostly of non-coding sequences. Within this massive proportion, previously misclassified as “junk DNA”, resides elements that function to regulate normal transcriptional programs. We are particularly interested in two classes of non-coding sequences: cis-regulatory elements (transcriptional promoters and enhancers) and endogenous retroviruses. Our research focuses on dissecting how non-coding sequences are epigenetically regulated in both normal development and disease. We utilize various epigenomic and molecular biology tools to delineate epigenetic pathways that modulate the activities of cis-regulatory elements and endogenous retroviruses, and their downstream effects on gene expression. Specifically, we are interested in 1) elucidating the function of non-coding elements in normal cellular processes; 2) determining the role of chromatin modifiers in 3D genome architecture, and 3) uncovering the epigenomes in cancer.”

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