Research interests

My research career started when the field of epigenetics in type 2 Diabetes (T2D) was largely unknown, contributing many of the first publiations in the area. Our research unit within the Lund University Diabetes Centre is at the frontline of epigenetic research and has a unique possibility to combine the latest technologies of epigenetic, genetic and metabolomics research with phenotypic data of large cohorts.

We have identified epigenetic changes in human muscle, fat and pancreatic islets, involved in gene regulation important for glucose metabolism and T2D pathogenesis. We have further shown a link between exercise, DNA methylation and metabolic phenotypes.

Based on the scientific results obtained during my years at Lund University, I propose a model where environmental factors act through epigenetic modifications, under the influence of genetic variation, on tissue specific gene transcription and consequently on metabolic phenotypes and risk of developing T2D. Increased understanding of epigenetic gene regulation in human tissues hold promise to precdict the outcome of an altered environment, which allows for better diagnostic and treatment strategies, and finally to prevent the progression of metabolic diseases.

Selected articles

• Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing of Human Pancreatic Islets Reveals Novel Differentially Methylated Regions in Type 2 Diabetes Pathogenesis.
  Volkov et al., Diabetes 2017.
• Impact of age, BMI and HbA1c levels on the genome-wide DNA methylation and mRNA expression patterns in human adipose tissue and identification of epigenetic biomarkers in blood.
  Rönn et al., Human Molecular Genetics, 2015.
• A Six Months Exercise Intervention Influences the Genome-wide DNA Methylation Pattern in Human Adipose Tissue.
  Rönn et al., Plos Genetics 2013.