Thomas P. Jenuwein

Jenuwein is a key researcher in the field of epigenetics. He identified the first histone lysine methyltransferase and defined a biochemical pathway for the formation and propagation of heterochromatin. His landmark findings revolutionized chromatin/epigenetics research and enabled a better undestanding of gene regulation, cell type differentiation and reprogramming. His discoveries also opened the basis for new forms of therapy for human diseases (e.g. cancer) and provided mechanistic insights into how gene regulation can respond to environmental changes. In short, his work was central to showing that "we are more than the sum of our genes."