High-resolution maps of genome topology, gene expression, chromatin state and transcription factor binding were generated for 7 timepoints during the conversion of primary B cells to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. In total, the project has yielded 114 high-quality genomic datasets that have been integrated using state-of-art computational tools to obtain a dynamic picture of the relationship between 3D genome folding and gene regulation in cells that are undergoing a drastic change in identity and function. This has led to several important conclusions regarding how genome topology impacts on gene regulation, how transcription factors shape the 3D genome landscape and why certain genes are activated early while other are activated late during cell reprogramming. We have communicated and will continue to communicate our results to the general public and scientific community through various ways. Until now, we have presented our findings at an international symposium organised by the CRG revolving around 3D genome dynamics and featuring world-class speakers, we have published them as a preprint and utilised social media to alert the general public and the scientific community. We will continue to do so, as we have secured an invited talk at the world's largest stem cell conference (the ISSCR Annual Meeting 2017, Boston), have submitted abstracts to other major conferences (e.g. EMBO series) and are actively pursuing peer-reviewed publication of our work. Direct exploitation of the results generated by this action are the continuation of a new research line in the host laboratory. Knowledge on technologies implemented has been transferred through direct hands-on training of personnel in the host laboratory, and both wet lab and computational expertise acquired during this action will directly benefit the host institute and its ERC Synergy 4DGenome program. Together with colleagues working with Hi-C technology we have recently organized (March 2017) an international course to train other scientists in the proper use of chromosome conformation capture techniques.
