Course
Epigenesis and epigenetics
Physiological consequences of perinatal nutritional programming
Course aim
Nutritional conditions in early life may, through epigenetic and epigenesist processes, have profound effects on physiological functioning and health in later life. This course aims to provide a detailed scientific background on the mechanisms that may underlie these early-life effects, both at the physiological and gene expression level. The program combines knowledge on perinatal programming by nutritional factors in humans, laboratory and farm animals.
Target group
The course is aimed at postgraduates (MSc, PhD) with a background in animal, biological, health, or food sciences and open for participants from both industry and universities/research centers. Participants are invited to present their own work (poster or oral presentation) and challenged to actively contribute to discussions.
Participants who wish to apply for a short oral presentation or a pitch should send an abstract to Dr. Wilma Steegenga (Wilma.Steegenga@wur.nl) before May 10th 2017.
Course design
The course consists of:
A series of lectures by national and international experts from different disciplines providing the latest scientific knowledge on the different subjects.
A hands-on workshop where participants can learn more on Pyrosequencing (DNA methylation), Droplet PCR (miRNA) or genome-wide DNA methylation analysis.
- Discussions on the participants own research projects. The course consists of a series of lectures providing the latest scientific knowledge on the different subjects. Furthermore, this knowledge will be discussed in several workshops with emphasis on application of the theory.
Programme topics
The following topics will be addressed:
Early life nutrition
- Prenatal programming; mechanisms and implications
- Hunger winter studies
- Nutrition during pregnancy
Immune programming
- Maternally-mediated immunological imprinting
- Effects of the microbioom
Epigenetics
- DNA methylation, histone modifications and ncRNA
- State of the art techniques
- Statistical and bioinformatic analysis
Phenotypic plasticity
- Metabolic flexibility
- Dietary interventions
Organization
Course coordinators
- Dr. Wilma Steegenga; Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University and Research, NL
- Prof. Bas Zwaan; Genetics, Wageningen University and Research, NL
Other faculty
Prof. Bas Kemp; Adaptation Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, NL
Dr. Elmar Tobi; Human Nutrition, Wageningen University and Research, NL
Dr. Aart Lammers; Adaptation Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, NL
Dr. Joost van der Heuvel; Genetics, Wageningen University and Research, NL
Dr. Fred van Leeuwen; Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, NL
Dr. Torsten Plösch; University Medical Centre Groningen, NL
Prof. Paul de Vos; University Medical Centre Groningen, NL
Dr. Mona Mischke; Nutricia Research, NL
Dr. Karl Bacos; Lund University, SE
Dr. Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna; Linköping University, SE
Dr. Bas Heijmans; Leiden University Medical Centre, NL
Dr. Ulrike Weber; Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Zürich, CH
Date & duration
The course is scheduled for 31 May – 2 June 2017.
Language
The course language will be English.
Study load
The study load of this course is 0.8 ECTS. Participants can receive 0.5 ECTS extra for a poster or oral.
Contact information
For more information regarding the course contents please contact:
Dr. Wilma Steegenga
Email: Wilma.Steegenga@wur.nl
and for organizational matters:
The Graduate School VLAG
Chantal Doeswijk
Email: chantal.doeswijk@wur.nl
Location & accommodation
The course venue is Conference Centre Hof van Wageningen. A number of hotel rooms have been blocked at Hof van Wageningen. Accommodation cost are € 75, - (single room; bed & breakfast). Participants have to book their own room by sending an e-mail to: info@hofvanwageningen.nl. Please book your room before 18 April 2017 and mention booking code EPI17.
The town of Wageningen is 5 km form Ede-Wageningen railway station and can be reached by taxi or bus. Ede-Wageningen railway station is about one and a half hours from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. For train schedules visit: www.ns.nl
Register
The course is fully booked. Registrants will automatically be placed on a waiting list.
To register please complete the electronic reply form before 24 April 2017.
Registrations are accepted in the order in which the registration form is received.
Instructions for payment, a letter of acceptance and further course details will be sent to the applicants within two weeks after registration and at the latest on 25 April 2017.
Cancellation policy:
- Cancellation may be made free of charge until 25 April 2017.
- From 25 April - 24 May 2017 we will charge 25% of the course fee paid
- After 24 May no refund will be paid
- Substitutions for participants may be made at any time until the start of the course.
Course fee
The course fee (which includes materials, coffee/tea during breaks, lunches and one course dinner (Wednesday ) but does not cover accommodation) depends on the participant’s affiliation:
| PhD candidates affiliated with VLAG / WIAS | € 185,- |
| PhD candidates | € 375,- |
| University staff / Non-profit | € 750,- |
| Industry / For-profit | € 1300,- |