Inaugural International Symposium on Epigenetic Inheritance 2026

graphic with dna double helix against a sunset background

LSU Vet Med hosted the 2026 Epigenetic Inheritance Symposium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, from July 15-17.

The Inaugural International Symposium on Epigenetic Inheritance at LSU, from July 15–17, 2026, convened top scientists, trainees, and professionals worldwide to explore recent developments in epigenetic inheritance and its significance for biology, medicine, and public health. Supported by the LSU Provost’s Fund, this event creates a North American counterpart to the biennial series initiated in 2017 by Professor Isabelle Mansuy at ETH Zurich.

The three-day meeting featured outstanding keynote and plenary lectures, scientific presentations, poster sessions, and panel discussions covering topics ranging from molecular mechanisms and environmental influences to disease risk and evolution. Just as importantly, the symposium fostered new collaborations, meaningful discussions, and connections among researchers across disciplines and career stages.

Awards were presented for outstanding graduate student, postdoctoral, and undergraduate posters in recognition of excellence in research and scientific communication.

The symposium concluded with a forward-looking discussion on building an international research community, strengthening collaborations, and establishing this meeting as a recurring forum for the field.

We are grateful to all of our speakers, participants, sponsors, volunteers, and organizers for making this inaugural meeting such a success. The enthusiasm and engagement throughout the symposium demonstrated the strength and momentum of this rapidly growing field.

This meeting marks the beginning of what we hope will become a lasting tradition at LSU. We look forward to welcoming the epigenetic inheritance research community back in 2028 for the next symposium. Details are below.

2026 SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM

PICTURES FROM THE 2026 SYMPOSIUM

Key themes include

  • Germline mechanisms of epigenetic transmission
  • RNA-mediated and chromatin-based inheritance pathways
    Parental diet, metabolism, and behavioral reprogramming in offspring
  • Developmental plasticity and multi-generational stability
  • Evolutionary consequences of non-genetic inheritance
  • Epigenetic variation in human health and disease

Organizing Committee

Sonia de Assis, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center

Chris Axelrod, Ph.D., Director, Integrated Physiology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Isabelle Mansuy, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroepigenetics, ETH Zurich & University of Zurich

Alexander Murashov, MD, Ph.D. — Chair, Professor and Department Head, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

Upasna Sharma, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

Michael Skinner, Ph.D., Founding Director, Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University