The primary interest of the Bernt Laboratory lies in investigating the role of epigenetic gene regulation in normal hematopoietic stem cells and extending these relevant findings to the study of leukemia. Epigenetic changes in cancer are of particular interest since because, in contrast to DNA sequence alterations, they are potentially reversible. 

There is a growing appreciation that epigenetic changes play a role in a wide variety of cancers and may govern biological processes associated with relapse and refractory disease. We use a combination of genetic conditional loss of function models for transcription factors and epigenetic modifiers, murine leukemia models, primary patient material, genome wide expression and epigenetic profiling, genome editing and small molecule inhibitors to dissect mechanisms controlling stemness and self-renewal in hematopoietic malignancies. Our goal: is to develop the depth of mechanistic understanding that will allow targeted pharmacologic modulation of epigenetic states as a means to develop more better therapies for our patients.