Kikuë Tachibana

Prof. Kikuë Tachibana is Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany, leading pioneering research on totipotency and chromatin reprogramming. She previously served as Group Leader at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria from 2011-2019.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in "DNA replication: Its regulation and translational applications" from University of Cambridge (2001-2005)
• Postdoctoral research on "Maintenance of sister chromatid cohesion in oocytes" at Oxford University (2006-2011)
• BA Hons in Natural Sciences (Genetics, Class 1) from University of Cambridge (1997-2000)

Prof. Tachibana's research focuses on the mechanisms of totipotency reprogramming, spatial chromatin reorganization, and zygotic genome activation (ZGA) in mouse embryos. Her work combines mechanistic cell biology with genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and biochemistry to understand how chromatin is epigenetically reprogrammed to totipotency within hours after fertilization. This research has significant implications for improving induced reprogramming technology and advancing regenerative medicine.

Her recent publications reveal key insights into zygotic genome activation, pioneer factors like Nr5a2, chromatin architecture, and DNA repair mechanisms during early embryonic development. Her work spans developmental biology, genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry, with a particular focus on understanding the earliest stages of life at the molecular level.

Scientific awards and honors include:

• Prize of the City of Vienna (Foerderungspreis) 2018
• Walther Flemming Award of the German Society for Cell Biology (DGZ) 2017
• EMBO Young Investigator (YIP) 2016-2018
• Young Academy (Junge Kurie) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences 2014-2018
• Best Paper Award by the Austrian Academy of Sciences 2016

Prof. Tachibana actively mentors a diverse team of researchers including 8 PhD students, 3 Master/Bachelor students, and several postdoctoral fellows. Her laboratory investigates fundamental questions about how life begins at the molecular level, with research supported by prestigious fellowships and grants including ERC funding.

The Tachibana lab comprises a multidisciplinary team including a personal assistant, lab manager, NGS core facility staff, postdocs, PhD students, research assistants, and technical staff, all working collaboratively to unravel the mysteries of early embryonic development through cutting-edge genomic, biochemical, and imaging approaches.