Daphne Selvaggia Cabianca

Daphne Selvaggia Cabianca is a Group Leader at the Cabianca Lab, affiliated with Helmholtz Munich under the Functional Epigenetics (IFE) group. Her research focuses on understanding how environmental inputs modulate chromatin state, spatial organization, and function using the model organism C. elegans.

• Research Interests
  • Epigenetic responses to environmental stress
  • Chromatin 3D organization and gene regulation
  • Nutrient and temperature effects on chromatin
  • Stress memory mechanisms
• Key Techniques
  • CRISPR-Cas9 genetic editing
  • ChIP, DamID, ATACseq
  • RNAseq and organismal stress assays

Her work explores the interplay between environmental stimuli and chromatin dynamics across life stages, from development to aging. This research has implications for diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer with strong environmental links.

Recent publications highlight her contributions to understanding fasting-induced chromatin reorganization, ferroptosis suppression in neuronal development, and environmental stress memory mechanisms. Collaborative lab members include doctoral researchers and postdocs working on various aspects of chromatin biology and C. elegans genetics.

Lab Members

• Iratxe Estivariz (Postdoc)
• Fernanda Pabst (Doctoral Researcher)
• Carole Zaratiegui (Doctoral Researcher)
• Yuri D'Alessio (Doctoral Researcher)
• Lorenz Pudelko (Doctoral Researcher)