Jan Jakub Żylicz
Associate Professor
The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), University of Copenhagen
Biografi
Jan Jakub Żylicz is a developmental biologist and group leader at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW) at the University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on the earliest stages of mammalian development, especially how embryonic cells decide their fate—whether to form the embryo itself or supporting structures like the placenta. His lab investigates how metabolism affects gene regulation by altering chromatin, the molecular packaging of DNA. Using tools such as CRISPR screens, single-cell sequencing, and epigenomic profiling, his team deciphers the molecular signals that steer these critical decisions. Żylicz holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge and has received several major grants, including a Sapere Aude Fellowship and a European Research Council Starting Grant. His aim is to uncover fundamental biological principles that not only shed light on early human development but may also improve fertility treatments and stem cell–based therapies.
