Epigenomic technologies: an interview with Jörg Tost

Abstract

Jörg Tost received his PhD in genetics from the University of Saarbrücken (Germany) in 2004 for devising novel methods for the analysis of haplotypes and DNA methylation patterns. After a postdoctoral stay in the technology development department of the Centre National de Génotypage (Evry, France), he led the Epigenetics groups from 2006 to 2012, before becoming the Director of Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment at the Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH). The laboratory is involved in the development and application of technologies to analyze DNA methylation, miRNAs and other epigenetic modifications quantitatively at high resolution at target loci and genome-wide using state-of-the-art sequencing technologies as well as the development of bioinformatic tools for the processing of such data. The laboratory mainly focuses on the analysis of epigenetic changes in neurodegenerative, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as the alteration of the epigenetic profiles in function of environmental exposure. A second research axis investigates novel technologies for the analysis of mutations of clinical relevance present at very low proportions in the analyzed samples and their impact on treatment management. Tost has an H-index of 50 and is the author or co-author of more than 195 publications.