Rome, 2 July 2020 Unravelling epigenetic reprogramming A study conducted by the Hackett group at EMBL Rome has identified key factors controlling the complex system of gene regulation during early embryo development, shedding new light on the mechanisms behind these events and on their evolutionary implications. Their findings are published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. more

General, 2 July 2020 Restructure of senior management Professor Heard said: “EMBL has grown significantly over the past decade including the addition of a new site at Barcelona, and we have ambitious plans for the future to ensure our research, services and training expand further for the benefit of our Member States, humanity and the planet.” more

Hinxton, 1 July 2020 Welcome: Ellie McDonagh Identifying drug targets is a complex yet crucial process in the life sciences. Open Targets is an innovative partnership between academia and the private sector that provides a platform for identifying potential drug targets linked with certain diseases and selecting or prioritising the most promising ones. Ellie McDonagh, the new Open Targets Informatics Science Director, wants to build on available resources and keep the partnership at the cutting edge. more

Heidelberg, 30 June 2020 EMBL boosts national and international sharing of genomic data A national consortium including EMBL and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is set to launch the German Human Genome–Phenome Archive, creating an invaluable bridge between fundamental biomedical research and applied healthcare. more

Hinxton, 29 June 2020 Existing drugs can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from hijacking cells Researchers in the Pedro Beltrao Group and colleagues evaluate how the new coronavirus rewires human proteins for its own replication, and identify several antiviral drugs ready for clinical trials. more

Hinxton, 26 June 2020 Five things you probably didn’t know about the Human Genome Project On 26 June 2000, the UK and US governments announced simultaneously the completion of the first draft of the entire human genome – the first map of the three billion base pairs that make up human DNA. The international project, led by scientists from across the world, aimed to provide high-quality sequencing data to help the scientific community understand human genetics, health, and disease. The project involved thousands of scientists, including many who worked on the Wellcome Genome Campus, where EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) is located. more

General, 26 June 2020 Sharing our passion for science with the world EMBL is joining the virtual seminar series ‘Life Science Across the Globe’ – a timely initiative to foster international scientific exchange across countries and continents, starting on 1 July. more

Rome, 25 June 2020 Silencing the SARS-CoV-2 receptor with epigenetic modifications Epigenetic modifications can turn genes on and off by affecting the chemical structure of the DNA or its associated proteins, rather than the DNA sequence. Unlike genetic modifications, epigenetic changes are transient and reversible. more

Hinxton, 24 June 2020 Unpicking the complexity of DNA mutations Tobacco smoke, UV radiation, and certain chemicals are some of the factors that can damage the genetic material of cells, triggering cancer. These factors modify individual letters in the DNA code, called nucleotides. more

Heidelberg, Hinxton, Hamburg, Barcelona, Rome, Grenoble, 23 June 2020 Equality and diversity at EMBL To achieve this goal, EMBL's Equality and Diversity Officers, Luisa Vieites Rodrigues and Zac O'Sullivan, are working closely with leadership and the EMBL community. In this interview, they share their vision and plans. more