Sari Pennings
Reader, SFHEA
Address
- Street
-
Queen's Medical Research Institute
Edinburgh Bioquarter
47 Little France Crescent - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH16 4TJ
Postgraduate teaching
Postgraduate Research Director, Centre for Cardiovascular Science
PhD/MScR in Cardiovascular Science - Programme Director
MScR in Biomedical Sciences (Life Sciences) - Course Organiser 'Genes and Disease I & II'
Postgraduate Committee Chair, Centre for Cardiovascular Science
PhD Supervisor
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA, 2021)
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Research summary
We investigate the dynamics of epigenetic DNA methylation and histone modifications essential for early development, cell lineage differentiation, and cell fate reprogramming during the life course. These marks create an epigenetic ‘landscape’ that supports cell type specific gene regulatory networks but can also provide an epigenetic readout of disease, environmental exposure, and ageing. We study these epigenetic mechanisms in tissue specification, including cardiovascular development, the developmental origins of disease, and the effects of metabolism and environmental pollution. Our research interests centre on chromatin-mediated gene repression mechanisms and chromatin remodelling in gene activation in the cell nucleus of mammalian and vertebrate embryos and organ tissues, stem cells, reprogrammed cells and yeast-based models. Our research employs a range of molecular and cell biology techniques, advanced microscopy imaging and bioinformatics. We have discovered that heterochromatin matures late in development but is induced early in mouse embryonic stem cells; and that epigenetic marks can rapidly adapt to cell culture environment.
Current research interests
Keywords: Epigenetics, Chromatin, Development, Cardiovascular, Environmental Exposure, Cell Metabolism, Stem Cells, Cell Reprogramming, Histone Modification, DNA MethylationKnowledge exchange
BBSRC Responsive Mode, sLoLa, IPAP AI - Grant Awarding Panel member (since 2023); BBSRC Committee C Core Member; Committees D and TDRF – Grant Awarding Panel member (2009-2016)
Carnegie Trust for the Universities Scotland – Assessor
MSc programme at University of Southampton - External Revalidation Assessor (2023-2024)
BSc MSci Biomedical Sciences programmes at Newcastle University – External Examiner (2016-2020)
Global Undergraduate Awards, Dublin – Life Sciences Judging Panel member (2019, 2020)
Senate Quality Assurance Committee at University of Edinburgh - Elected member of Senate (since 2025)
Organiser
Edinburgh Chromatin, Epigenetics & Transcriptional Regulation Network, Joint Founding Organiser of the Edinburgh Epigenetics Meetings
Pharmacology 2025, Chair/Organiser of S10 'Pharmaco-Epigenomics and Epigenetic Therapeutic Approaches’
Edinburgh Metabolism Research Theme meetings, 27 Jan 2023 and 23 Jan 2024, Joint Organiser
Special Issue on 'The Stem Cell Niche: Interactions between Stem Cells and Their Environment' for 'Stem Cells International' - Lead Guest Editor
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/sci/si/210687/
Special Issue on 'Epigenetic Connections between the Gene Regulatory Network and Chromatin Dynamics' for 'International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS)' - Guest Editor
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/chromatin_epigenetics_transcription
I have championed Public Engagement with Research at the University of Edinburgh and I continue to work towards developing high impact strategies and effective integration of public engagement with research.
My Public Engagement extracurricular activities include:
Edinburgh Medical School 300 events, Digital Education workstream member (2024-2026)
Public Engagement Committee, Centre for Cardiovascular Science - Academic Lead and Co-Chair (2017-2023)
Public Engagement Forum of the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine - Co-Chair (2017-2019)
Public Engagement Strategy Group of the University of Edinburgh - Member (2018-2019)
Public Engagement Family Events organised jointly by Centres of the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine - Coordinator (2017-2019)
Public Engagement 'Healthy Heart!' by the Centre for Cardiovascular Science at Edinburgh Science Festival - Organiser (2010-2016)
CVS Staff and Students demonstrate hands-on science at Edinburgh Science Festival