DNA, RNA, and Chromatin Epigenetics: Disease and Development

The 2025 Epigenetics Society Conference, "DNA, RNA, and Chromatin Epigenetics: Disease and Development," will take place October 15-17, 2025, at Northwestern University’s Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Complex (SQBRC). The meeting will advance understanding of epigenetic mechanisms and their roles in health and disease, addressing key questions at the interface of basic and translational research. Approximately 200 attendees, including leading scientists, early-career researchers, and trainees, will present and discuss cutting-edge findings and methodologies. The program features research presentations, interactive poster sessions, and discussions of technologies including single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and machine learning. Topic areas include therapeutic targeting of epigenetic mechanisms, RNA modifications, and environmental influences on epigenetic regulation. The conference will also strengthen mentorship, professional development, and collaboration to accelerate scientific progress. New initiatives, including a Visionary Network mentoring forum, will focus on career planning, grantsmanship, publishing strategies, research rigor and reproducibility, responsible conduct of research, project/lab management, conflict resolution, and effective scientific communication. Travel awards and registration waivers will be provided based on scientific merit and programmatic relevance, and abstract quality. Plenary and themed sessions will highlight seminal advances and emerging tools across the field. Aligned with the NIH mission, this conference will drive biomedical research progress, inform therapeutic strategies, and strengthen translational applications in epigenetics, shaping future research directions and improving health outcomes for individuals affected by epigenetically influenced diseases.