Invited Speakers

List of invited speakers including contribution abstract

Reiner Siebert – University of Ulm, Germany

Head of the Institute for Human Genetics

The Quantum Physical Aspect of Epigenetics in the Living Cell Epigenetic mechanisms are informational cellular processes instructing normal and diseased phenotypes. They are associated with DNA but without altering the DNA sequence, and usual comprise chemical processes like DNA methylation or histone modifications. We recently proposed the existence of an additional quantum physics layer of epigenetics (Siebert et al., Clin Epigenetics, 2023). In this lecture, based on experimental data and theoretical considerations from the fields of life sciences, physics and chemistry, a series of testable hypotheses will be presented on how quantum physical properties of DNA could potentially influence epigenetic informational processes and gene expression regulation in health and disease of living beings.

Ai-Min Guo – Central South University, China

Professor at the School of Physics and Electronics

Novel quantum transport in helical molecules: A theoretical perspective In this talk, I will present our recent theoretical studies on the electronic transport properties of helical molecules, including double-stranded DNA and its derivatives, as well as protein-like single-helical molecules. Our results reveal several intriguing phenomena. First, double-stranded DNA and its derivatives, such as DNA hairpins, DNA tetrahedra, and G4-DNA, exhibit chirality-induced spin selectivity, with the spin polarization increasing with the molecular length. Second, a multiterminal DNA tetrahedron is predicted to function as a nanoscale charge splitter. Third, circular DNA displays Aharonov-Bohm-like effects and Fano resonances in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field.
Furthermore, topological states can emerge in both double-stranded DNA and single-helical molecules when subjected to an external electric field perpendicular to their helix axis. In particular, Thouless charge pumping can be realized by rotating this electric field in the transverse plane, where an integer number of electrons can transport across the helical molecules during each pumping cycle at zero bias voltage. Finally, Majorana zero modes can arise in single-helical proteins adsorbed on superconducting films. Moreover, we identify a parameter regime with decaying superconductivity, in which topologically nontrivial and trivial zero modes coexist while the bandgap remains unchanged. As the pairing potential increases, the topologically nontrivial zero modes will transform to the trivial ones without the conventional bandgap closing-reopening process. These findings demonstrate that helical molecular systems host a rich variety of intriguing quantum phenomena. References
Xiao-Feng Chen, Wenchen Luo, Tie-Feng Fang, Yossi Paltiel, Oded Millo, Ai-Min Guo, and Qing-Feng Sun, Phys. Rev. B 108, 035401 (2023).
Lei Deng, Irfan Hussain Bhat, and Ai-Min Guo, J. Chem. Phys. 158, 244116 (2023).
Pei-Jia Hu, Tie-Feng Fang, Ai-Min Guo, and Qing-Feng Sun, Appl. Phys. Lett. 121, 154102 (2022).
Pei-Jia Hu, Si-Xian Wang, Xiao-Feng Chen, Xiao-Hui Gao, Tie-Feng Fang, Ai-Min Guo, and Qing-Feng Sun, Phys. Rev. Appl. 17, 024074 (2022).
Pei-Jia Hu, Si-Xian Wang, Xiao-Hui Gao, Yan-Yang Zhang, Tie-Feng Fang, Ai-Min Guo, and Qing-Feng Sun, Phys. Rev. B 102, 195406 (2020).
Ai-Min Guo, Pei-Jia Hu, Xiao-Hui Gao, Tie-Feng Fang, and Qing-Feng Sun, Phys. Rev. B 102, 155402 (2020).
Ai-Min Guo and Qing-Feng Sun, Phys. Rev. B 95, 155411 (2017).

Helene Kretzmer – Hasso Plattner Institute and University of Potsdam, Germany

Professor for Computational Genomics

Epigenetics – Basic principles and physiological relevance Epigenetic regulation enables cells to stably maintain identity while remaining responsive to developmental and environmental cues. This talk introduces the basic principles of DNA methylation, focusing on the enzymatic machinery that establishes, maintains, and interprets methylation patterns and how these patterns shape gene regulation, chromatin organization, and cellular function, including the physiological roles of DNA methylation across development and cell differentiation, and how epigenetic deregulation is associated with malignant transformation.

Agostino Migliore – Padua University, Italy

Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemical Sciences

[Abstract text to be added here when available.]

Thomas Carell – Institute for Chemical Epigenetics, Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany

Head of the Carell Group

New epigenetic bases in DNA and RNA Nucleosides are a well-established group of therapeutics. Oligonucleotides establish themselves currently as a novel class of pharmaceuticals. The latter allow the precise binding to cellular nucleic acids to interfere with splicing or to degrade specific mRNAs. mRNA in turn has started to create a new class of vaccines. In the lecture I am addressing new aspects in all three areas i) nucleosides, ii) oligonucleotides and iii) mRNA vaccines. I will present a new nucleoside that efficiently reduces the levels of epigenetic mdC in the genome to trigger an epigenetic anti-cancer response. I will present mouse PDX models that show that efficient demethylation can have a profound anticancer effect.[1] In the second part of my lecture, I will present data that allow to deliver oligonucleoside therapeutics efficiently into different cell types.[2,3] The chemistry involves the development of click-adapter molecules that enable an efficient and cost effective one-pot multiple click linkage of oligonucleotides to different targeting ligands with flexible multiplicity. Finally, I am presenting data that explain why pseudouridine (Ψ) and 1-methylpseudouridine (1MeΨ) containing mRNA can escape immune detection.[4,5] Immune silencing of mRNA is a prerequisite for the development of mRNA vaccines and potentially new chemical modifications in RNA are needed to create immune silent RNA therapeutics.[6] References
[1] F. R. Traube, N. F. Brás, W. P. Roos, C. C. Sommermann, T. Diehl, R. J. Mayer, A. R. Ofial, M. Müller, H. Zipse, T. Carell Chem. Eur. J. 2022, 10.1002/chem.202200640.
[2] A. J. Tölke, J. F. Gaisbauer, Y. V. Gärtner, B. Steigenberger, A. Holovan, F. Streshnev, S. Schneider, M. Müller, T. Carell Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 10.1002/anie.202405161.
[3] E.S. Schönegger, A. Crisp, M. Radukic, J. Burmester, T. Frischmuth, T. Carell ChemBioChem 2023, 10.1002/cbic.202300701.
[4] W. Greulich, M. Wagner, M.M. Gaidt, C. Stafford, Y. Cheng, A. Linder, T. Carell, V. Hornung Cell 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.11.001.
[5] M. Bérouti, M. Wagner, W. Greulich, I. Piseddu , J. Gärtig, L. Hansbauer, C. Müller-Hermes, M. Heiss, A. Pichler, A.J. Tölke, G. Witte, K.-P. Hopfner, D. Anz, M. Sattler, T. Carell, V. Hornung Cell 2025, 10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.032.
[6] V. R. Graziano, J. Porat, M. D. Ah Kioon, I. Mejdrová, A.J. Matz, C. G. Lebedenko, P. Chai, J. V. Pluvinage, R. Ricci-Azevedo, A. G. Harrison, S. S. Wright, X. Wang, M. S. Strine, P. Wang, M. R. Wilson, S. K. Vanaja, B. Zhou, F. J. Barrat, T. Carell, R. A. Flynn & V. A. Rathinam Nature 2025, 10.1038/s41586-025-09310-6.

Hans-Achim Wagenknecht – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany

Research group leader at Wagenknecht group

Natural epigenetic DNA modifications cause DNA photodamage by triplet energy transfer Investigating the migration of excited-state energy in DNA is crucial for a deep understanding of protection mechanisms and light-induced DNA damage. While numerous reports focused on single electron transfer and Förster-type energy transfer in DNA, studies on the Dexter-type triplet-triplet energy transfer are scarce, in particular those with direct detection of photoexcited triplet states. We study these processes using artificial photosensitizers, including xanthones, thioxanthones, benzophenones and acetophenones, as synthetic C-nucleosides in specially designed photoactive DNA architectures, by photochemical and spectroscopic means. We observe cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers as DNA photodamages as a result of the triplet photochemistry. Moreover, 5-formyl-2’-deoxycytidine, an intermediate during the erasure of the epigenetic marker 5-methyl-2’-deoxycytidine, and 5-formyl-2’-deoxyuridine, an oxidative lesion of thymidine, are naturally occurring DNA modifications. The carbonyl groups of these two modified nucleotides are the smallest possible photosensitizers. To demonstrate their damaging potential, special ternary DNA architectures were used in which the formylated nucleotides and the site for damage formation were located at well-defined positions in the DNA sequences. This shows for the first time that epigenetic DNA modifications interact with sunlight and can induce DNA photodamages, not only locally, but also at remote site, few base pairs away. References
M. Schrödter, H.-A. Wagenknecht, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 20742−20749.
S. Häcker, J. A. Moghtader, C. Kerzig, H.-A. Wagenknecht, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2025, 23, 5826-5832.
S. Häcker, T. J. B. Zähringer, H.-A. Wagenknecht, C. Kerzig, JACS Au 2025, 5, 2770-2778.
S. Häcker, M. Schrödter, A. Kuhlmann, H.-A. Wagenknecht, JACS Au 2023, 3, 1843-1850.
H.-A. Wagenknecht, ChemBioChem 2022, 23, e202100265.

Danny Porath – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Vice Dean Research, Head of The Porath Nano-Bio-Electronics Lab

[Abstract text to be added here when available.]

Ron Naaman – Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Head of the Molecular Electronics Ron Naaman's Group

The Role of Electron’s Spin in Transferring Information and Energy in Biological Systems Spin-based properties, applications, and devices are typically associated with magnetic effects and magnetic materials. However, chiral organic molecules, and in particular chiral biomolecules, can inject spin-polarized electrons. These electrons enhance electron-transfer efficiency and play a significant role in many biological processes, such as respiration and proton transfer. This phenomenon of Chiral-Induced Spin Selectivity (CISS) has been investigated in proteins and enzymes, in electron conduction through DNA, and in numerous biochemical reactions. Several examples illustrating the role of spin-polarized electrons in biological systems will be discussed in detail.

Alexander Eisfeld – Technische Universität Dresden, Germany

PostDoc researcher at the Chair of Theoretical Quantum Optics

Influence of motion on excitation transport [Abstract text to be added here when available.]

Dennis Herb – University of Ulm, Germany

Researcher at the Institute for Complex Quantum Systems

Bridging Quantum Physics and Epigenetics: Statistical Analysis of Charge Transfer in Methylated DNA It has been shown that charge transfer in DNA can occur over distances of over one hundred base pairs [1]. This process has been proposed to play a functional role in biological processes such as damage detection and protein–DNA interactions [2]. However, the impact of epigenetic modifications such as cytosine methylation, which are fundamental for DNA regulation processes, on charge transfer in DNA remains poorly investigated and understood [3]. A major challenge is the interdisciplinary nature of the problem: while ab initio methods are highly accurate, they are too computationally expensive to be applicable to long DNA sequences or statistical analyses. In my talk, I will present a method designed for large-scale simulations of charge transfer in DNA [4]. This approach is based on molecular dynamics combined with a linear combination of atomic orbitals method, yielding parameters for a tight-binding Hamiltonian. To account for environmental effects such as relaxation and decoherence, we use a Lindblad-type master equation with phenomenological decay rates that are fitted to experimental data. This coarse-grained framework enables us to investigate statistical trends in DNA charge transfer across extended sequences. We demonstrate how this approach facilitates the transition from atomistic information to biologically relevant length scales. References
[1] J. D. Slinker et al., Nature 3, 228 (2011)
[2] A. R. Arnold et al., Cell Chemical Biology 23, 183 (2016)
[3] R. Siebert et al., Clinical Epigenetics 15, 145 (2023)
[4] D. Herb et al., Comp. Phys. Comm. 313, 109626 (2025)

Maria Coral del Val Muñoz – University of Granada, Spain

Associate Professor at Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence

[Abstract text to be added here when available.]