Study
Study at UCL
Being a student at UCL is about so much more than just acquiring knowledge. Studying here gives you the opportunity to realise your potential as an individual, and the skills and tools to thrive.
Research
Research at UCL
Find out more about what makes UCL research world-leading, how to access UCL expertise, and teams in the Office of the Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation and Global Engagement).
Engage
Engage with UCL
Discover the many ways you can connect with UCL, and how we work with industry, government and not-for-profit organisations to tackle tough challenges.
About
About UCL
Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL is London's leading multidisciplinary university, with more than 16,000 staff and 50,000 students from 150 different countries.

Intergenerational Inheritance of Epigenetic Marks

An Investigation of Intergenerational Inheritance of Epigenetic Marks from Obese Father to Growth Restricted Offspring

We have shown that obese men with insulin-resistance are at risk of fathering growth-restricted babies with epigenetic changes to metabolism-controlling genes. Hillman S. et al. Diabetes Care 2013; 36: 1675-1680 and Hillman SL. et al. and Epigenetics 2015; 10:50-61).

In collaboration with Professor Vardhman Rakyan’s group at QMUL and Dr Michelle Holland at Kings College London, we are funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC/P011799/1) (£903,026) to investigate epigenetic marks (DNA methylation) associated with paternal obesity and whether they can be reversed by weight loss.

We are also investigating whether there is evidence of intergenerational inheritance of acquired epigenetic marks from obese fathers to growth-restricted babies. If so, could pre-conception paternal weight loss improve pregnancy outcomes?