Dr. Eileen Furlong

Biography

Biography PhD 1996, University College Dublin. Postdoctoral research at Stanford University. Group leader at EMBL since September 2002. Senior Scientist since 2009. Joint Head of Genome Biology Unit 2009-13. Head of Genome Biology Unit since 2013. ERC Advanced Investigator since 2013. Elected EMBO Member since 2013.

Research Interest

Furlong Group Genome regulation and topology during embryonic development Huber Group Multi-omics and statistical computing Köhn Group (visiting) Phosphatase chemistry and biology Korbel Group From genomic variation to molecular mechanism Krebs Group (from Jan. 2018) Decoding gene regulation using single molecule genomics Krijgsveld Team (visiting) Quantitative proteomics Merten Group Microfluidic approaches in drug discovery and personalised medicine Noh Group Epigenetic mechanisms of neurodevelopment and diseases Savitski Team Stability proteomics for assessing the state of the proteome Stegle Group (Heidelberg) Statistical genomics and systems genetics Steinmetz Group Systems genetics and precision health Typas Group Dissecting bacterial lifestyle and interspecies interactions with systems approaches Previous and current research Precise regulation of gene expression is essential for almost all biological processes, and a key driving force in development, evolution and disease. Expression states are initiated through diverse cues modulating transcription factor activity, which converge on cis-regulatory elements such as enhancers. Enhancers thereby act as integration platforms to control specific patterns of expression, telling genes when and where to be expressed. Given their central role, mutations in enhancers often lead to devastating developmental defects and are becoming increasingly linked to human disease