Aniruddha Chatterjee
University of Otago, New Zealand
Host: Michael Grusch & Karin Schelch
Program
Charting the DNA methylome landscape in solid cancers
Our team has developed some of the first pipelines for genome-scale DNA methylation analysis. This work has revealed aberrant methylation and gene expression patterns across several cancer types, and has uncovered new mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in cancer cells. Currently, we are applying whole-genome DNA methylation analysis not only to tissues, but also to cell-free DNA (epigenetic liquid biopsy), as well as to epigenetic editing platform - addressing clinically relevant questions in cancers such as colorectal, prostate, lung, and pancreatic cancer.
Our epigenetic editing research offers insights into causal functions and new regulatory mechanisms in cancer. In this talk, I will highlight key findings from our past and recent work, and share future directions aimed at understanding the role of DNA methylation in cancer metastasis, early detection, and treatment monitoring.
About the Speaker
Associate Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee is a renowned epigeneticist, currently holding a Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship (Health Research Council NZ, 2025), and previously a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship (Royal Society of New Zealand, 2018–2024). He has pioneered the development of the first DNA methylation maps across various cell types and organisms. His work has identified aberrant epigenetic and gene expression patterns in multiple tumour types and uncovered novel mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in cancer.
With more than 105 publications, A/Prof Chatterjee is ranked among the top global scholars in methylation research (ScholarGPS). He has held numerous leadership roles, including Associate Dean of Research at the Dunedin School of Medicine (New Zealand), and serves on various scientific committees. He is also the founder and director of the Epigenetics User Group (Otago, NZ) and a UKCGE-recognised research supervisor.