The aim of his project is to investigate the mechanisms of epigenetic memory at the example of the responsiveness of human immune cells to vitamin D.
The results of a 2-year intervention study, where participants will be asked to take a monthly bolus of vitamin D3 (during first winter), and later on a daily supplementation (during the second winter), should allow us observe the responses of the epigenome and transcriptome of immune cells to vitamin D that are found in all study participants as well as individual-specific responses.
This will facilitate understanding the molecular basis of individual differences in the response to vitamin D, referred to as the vitamin D response index. As a consequence, we will be able to provide more personalized advices for vitamin D supplementation, in order to obtain optimized health benefits in terms of a well-functioning immune system.
