Axel Schumacher

Current

• Independent Group leader at TU-Munich
• Group Leader Epigenetics at Klinikum Rechts der Isar

Past

• Project leader Epigenetic microarrays at CAMH
• Post-doctoral fellow at CAMH
• Visiting researcher at Rudbeck Laboratories

• Post-doctoral fellow at Centre for Molecular Medicine Cologne
• Visiting researcher at University of Cologne
• Visiting researcher at Rajewsky laboratory University Cologne
• Visiting researcher at Institute of Genetics and Embryology, St. Petersburg
• Visiting researcher at Babraham Institute Cambridge/UK

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Education

• Universität zu Köln

Connections

20 connections

Industry

Biotechnology

Websites

• My Website
• Mirror:

Axel Schumacher’s Summary

Selected Publications:

Axel Schumacher et al. (1998)
Methylation analysis of the PWS/AS region does not support an enhancer-competition model.
Nature Genet. 19: 324-325; (IF: 40.4)

Axel Schumacher et al. (2000)
Epigenetic and genotype-specific effects on the stability of the novo imposed methylation patterns in transgenic mice.
J.Biol.Chem., 275: 37915-37921 (IF: 7.7)

Axel Schumacher (2001)
Mechanisms and brain specific consequences of genomic imprinting in Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome.
Gene Funct. Dis., 2: No.1, 1-19, (Wiley-VCH Top 10 downloaded paper 2001)

A. Schumacher et al. (2003)
Staurosporine is a potent activator of neuronal, glial and "CNS stem cell"-like neurosphere differentiation in murine embryonic stem cells.
Mol Cell Neurosci., 23(4):669-80 (IF: 5.4)

A. Schumacher & W. Doerfler (2004)
Influence of in vitro manipulation on the stability of methylation patterns in the Snurf/Snrpn-imprinting region in mouse embryonic stem cells.
Nucl. Acid Res., 5: 1566-1576 (IF: 7.3)

A. Schumacher & A. Petronis (2006)
Epigenetics in complex diseases: from theory to laboratory praxis.
Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunolgy, 310:81-115)(IF: 3.0)

A. Schumacher et al. (2006)
Microarray-based DNA methylation profiling: technology and applications.
Nucl. Acid Res., Vol.34, 2: 528-542 (IF: 7.3; on NAR top ‘hot papers’ list 2006 !)

J. Flanagan, V. Popendikyte, N. Pozdniakovaite, M. Sobolev, A. Assadzadeh, A. Schumacher, et al. (2006)
Intra- and Inter- Individual Epigenetic Variation in Human Germ Cells.
American Journal of Human Genetics; 79:67-84 (IF: 11.6; a Nature Reviews Genetics Research Highlight for 2006!)

A. Schumacher et al. (2006)
Design and application of microarrays in DNA methylation profiling.
Humana Press, Genomic protocols (Book), in press

A. Schumacher et al. (2006)
No association of chromatin-modifying protein 2B with sporadic frontotemporal dementia.
Neurobiology of Aging, Sep 14; (IF: 5,5)

Axel Schumacher’s Specialties:

Epigenetics,
Genomic Imprinting,
Embryonic stem cells,
Microarray technology/ Array development,
Borderline syndrome,
Prader Willi/Angelman Syndrome ,
In vitro differentiation cell systems,
DNA methylation,
MALDI-MS,
Schizophrenia/Bipolar Disorder,
Bisulfite sequencing ,
Mouse genetics/breeding,
Alzheimer’s disease,
Association studies, Hapmap,
Frontotemporal dementia,
Transgene technology.

Patents: CpG-Amplicon and Array protocol (Licenced to intern. Biotech company).

Axel Schumacher’s Experience

• Independent Group leader

  TU-Munich

  (Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Research industry)

  September 2007 — Present (2 years 4 months)

  Research in the epigenetics of complex diseases (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, cancer and schizophrenia). I also work in the brand new filed of pharmacoepigenetics.

• Group Leader Epigenetics

  Klinikum Rechts der Isar

  (Non-Profit; 1001-5000 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  January 2006 — Present (4 years )

  My research concentrates on epigenetic whole-genome analysis in Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, frontotemporal dementia, borderline syndrome and other complex disorders. In collaboration with academic and corporate research groups, we developed a detailed high-throughput microarray-based method of methylation profiling on a genome-wide scale. One of the long-range goals of then lab includes the development of better epigenetic profiling methods, that can be used to screen a complete genome for several different epigenetic modifications with high resolution. Currently, we use so called “epigenetic microarrays” and MALDI-TOF MS Mass Spectrometry to screen for epigenetic abberations in complex diseases. With these new and innovative profiling technologies the complete methylation status for each CpG site within a target region can be determined in detail. Additionally, the group focusses on environmental effects on the epigenome (such as radiation, stress, diet etc..).

• Project leader Epigenetic microarrays

  CAMH

  (Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry)

  July 2004 — December 2005 (1 year 6 months)

  Project-Leader: Microarray development & Epigenetics of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder at the Epigenetics Laboratory (Head: Dr. Art Petronis), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto/CAN

• Post-doctoral fellow

  CAMH

  (Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry)

  January 2003 — June 2004 (1 year 6 months)

  Post-doctoral fellow at the Neurogenetics Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto/CAN

• Visiting researcher

  Rudbeck Laboratories

  (Public Company; 201-500 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  February 2003 — March 2003 (2 months)

  Research visit (microarray-technologies) in the lab of Prof. Jan Dumanski at the Rudbeck Laboratories in Uppsala/SWE

• Post-doctoral fellow

  Centre for Molecular Medicine Cologne

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  July 2002 — December 2002 (6 months)

  Post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Molecular Medicine (ZMMK) in Cologne/Germany in collaboration with Prof. Walter Doerfler and Dr. Stefan Arnhold (Dept. I of Anatomy), University of Cologne/GER

• Visiting researcher

  University of Cologne

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  January 2002 — December 2002 (1 year )

  Training program with the topic of neuronal-cell culture and neurogenesis of ES cells in the labs of Dr. Michael Coleman (Inst. for Genetics) and Prof. Klaus Addicks (Dept. I of Anatomy), University of Cologne/GER

• Visiting researcher

  Rajewsky laboratory University Cologne

  (Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  August 1999 — November 1999 (4 months)

  Training program with the topic of ES-technology and gene-targeting in the lab of Prof. Klaus Rajewsky in Cologne/GER

• Visiting researcher

  Institute of Genetics and Embryology, St. Petersburg

  (Government Agency; 1001-5000 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  September 1994 — September 1994 (1 month)

  Study of the embryonic development of amphibians at the Institute of Genetics and Embryology, St. Petersburg/RUS

• Visiting researcher

  Babraham Institute Cambridge/UK

  (Non-Profit; 201-500 employees; Biotechnology industry)

  January 1994 — July 1994 (7 months)

  Project on Genomic Imprinting at the H19/Igf2-region in the lab of Dr. Wolf Reik in collaboration with Dr. Robert Feil, Laboratory of Developmental Genetics and Imprinting, The Babraham Institute in Cambridge/UK

Axel Schumacher’s Education

• Universität zu Köln

  PhD , Genetics , 1990 — 1998

  Study of Biology at the University of Cologne
  Main Topics: Genetics, Biochemistry, Botany, Physics
  Specialization: Epigenetics & Medical genetics
  
  Final Exam: Diploma of Biology in the lab of Prof. Dr. Walter Doerfler, Cologne/GER and in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Bernhard Horsthemke, Essen/GER
  Grade: A
  Thesis: Aspects of DNA-methylation: Genomic Imprinting and stability of de novo methylation-patterns.
  
  Then PhD in Genetics; Institute of Genetics, Cologne
  Thesis: Gametic imprinting and neurogenesis: Analysis of the parental imprinted Snurf/Snrpn gene-cluster in humans and in mouse embryonic stem cells.
  Grade: A+

Additional Information

Axel Schumacher’s Websites:

• My Website
• Mirror:

Axel Schumacher’s Interests:

Epigenetic profiling of complex diseases, Pharmacoepigenomics (drug-epigenome interactions), Stem cell biology, Genomic imprinting, Influence of environment on human health, Development of epigenetic profiling methods (microarrays and nucleotide chemistry), Cognitive processes and game-theory. I also gained experience in other fields such as: Referee for Nucleic Acid Research, Molecular Psychology, Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Schizophrenia Research, American Journal of Medical Genetics, Schizophrenia Bulletin, Journal of Neurochemistry, Human Molecular Genetics, BioTechniques and Nature Genetics Referee/Consultant, National Alliance for Research On Schizophrenia and Depression, NARSAD Co-Founder MethyLogiX Biotech/Consulting Toronto/Munich Webmaster Epigenomics.ca, Grailmaster.com Consulting epigenetic technologies Completed seminar-series ‘Entrepreneurship 101’: Biotech start-up at the MaRS Business Resource Centre Toronto.

Axel Schumacher’s Groups:

Epigenetics Society ,
American Society of Human Genetics,
Rett Syndrome Research Foundation,
Epigenome Network of Excellence.

Axel Schumacher’s Honors:

NARSAD Young Investigator Award, USA,
CIHR Award for Schizophrenia research, CAN

Axel Schumacher’s Contact Settings

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