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Chemical Biology of the Epigenome Center

Epigenetic dysregulation is now recognized as a driving factor in a wide variety of diseases including oncologic, developmental, auto-immune, and pathogen-induced disorders. As a result, there is a growing interest in developing epigenetic-focused next generation tool compounds to facilitate a fundamental understanding of the biological mechanisms associated with aberrant epigenetic pathways and potentially therapeutic strategies. The Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (CICBDD) in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy has joined forces with the School of Medicine’s Center for Structural Biology (CSB) to create a new initiative to facilitate a chemical probe/drug discovery center at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Leveraging the broad expertise of multiple centers, core facilities and UNC faculty from multiple departments, the Chemical Biology of the Epigenome Center (CBEC) will offer a coordinated strategic approach for probe and drug discovery with an emphasis on epigenetic regulators across biological systems and model organisms. The CBEC includes a dynamic high-throughput screening facility focused on chromatin and unique compound libraries directed towards epigenetic regulators; together with a comprehensive suite of biochemical, genomic and structural biology analytic techniques.

The CBEC recognizes that the greatest challenge to unlocking the secrets of epigenetic mechanisms involves the use of chemical probes that influence or block epigenetic steps. The identification, development and application of these probes represent a new frontier in epigenetics. Chemical tools that regulate chromatin will probe fundamental biology and mitigate abnormal epigenetic events that result in disease. Thus, the grand challenge of the CBEC is to harness the untapped potential at UNC to bridge the power of epigenetics and chemical biology to advance new discoveries and create new therapeutic opportunities.