I attended the talk that Clemence Pinel, from King's College London, gave regarding epigenetics and the relevance in today's research. To start off her talk, she introduced three aspects that lab scientists incorporate into their daily research endeavors. These include profitability, mobility, and versatility. Essentially, Pinel goes through her presentation covering each of these important aspects of research and how research specifically geared toward epigenetics cover these facets as well. Furthermore, she goes on to explain how collaboration is an important part of scientific research, whether that's the sharing of knowledge or even resources. This allows for labs to essentially save time and resources, creating a very efficient avenue for optimal research conditions. In addition, collaborations can also happen with biotech companies, especially because a lot of the biotech equipment is actually quite pricey. As a result, many epigenetics research labs will contact biotech companies in order to gain access to the technology that is already available at those companies. On the other hand, biotech companies will then use the data that research labs have acquired in search of further developing a potential product.
(A quick picture with Clemence Pinel herself after her presentation)
In terms of mobility, collaborations between labs will allow for quick transitions and "changes of direction" when it comes to research. When changing directions in a research route, it is much easier to do so when in collaboration with another research lab, instead of attempting to start an endeavor on a new project. Also, with the use of collaborations, research done in different environments can essentially help these labs to form "a bigger picture" regarding epigenetics and how the environment as whole can play a monumental role.
(Pinel presenting about what the environment can do for research labs)
According to Pinel, collaborations prove to useful in the versatility of research as well. Many times, research labs will work with different labs that are studying similar aspects, yet focused on slightly different environments. Specifically, she stressed the importance of environment in the study and research of epigenetics. As a result, it allows for epigenetics research labs to reach maximum profit as well, as they can tackle different aspects epigenetics in different environments, simply by working with other epigenetics research labs. This is the reason that the study of environments in relation to epigenetics is actually a very profitable research area.
(Pinel speaking of the importance of collaboration in epigenetics research)
Overall, the presentation Pinel reminded me of the unit we had on biotech and the relevance of this technology in this coming age. Furthermore, these technology units can be applied to various other disciplines of science, like epigenetics research (as mentioned by Pinel), in order to maximize profit.
In addition, her talk about epigenetics and the collaboration it requires has opened my eyes to intricacies and planning research requires. I am actually part of a research lab that is focused on bone biology and how different environments will spur on the most bone growth. However, I was never aware of the amount of collaboration that could be happening that I was never aware of. After this presentation by Pinel, I have a desire to actually go speak with the principle investigator in my lab to ask how our lab particularly is engaging in these collaborations with other labs or biotech companies to provide the most efficient research environments.
References
Feil, Robert, and Mario F. Fraga. “Epigenetics and the Environment: Emerging Patterns and Implications.” Nature Reviews Genetics, vol. 13, no. 2, 4 Jan. 2012, pp. 97–109., doi:10.1038/nrg3142.
Pinel, Clemence. “The Construction of the ‘Environment’ in Epigenetics Research: A Social Study.” The UCLA Institute for Society and Genetics, socgen.ucla.edu/events/the-construction-of-the-environment-in-epigenetics-research-a-social-study/.
Vesna, Victoria. Medicine Body Lecture. Video. 26 Oct 2012.
Weinhold, Bob. “Epigenetics: The Science of Change.” Environmental Health Perspectives 114.3 (2006): A160–A167. Print.
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