The lab of Hendrik Marks focuses on epigenetic mechanisms regulating early cellular specialization. His team pioneered a 2D model of mouse peri-implantation genome regulation, using female cells to unravel the dynamics of X-linked gene silencing. He initiated single-cell studies on cellular interplay within mouse gastruloids (ENW XL grant 2022, main applicant). By means of a public-private partnership with Fluidigm, his team developed miniaturized platforms for -omics profiling on embryo models. Recently, he successfully initiated a new research line on pre-implantation human embryogenesis, investigating aneuploidies (ZonMW Open grant, 2024) and sex differences (ZonMW TOP, 2025). Hendrik is actively involved in discussions surrounding human Stem Cell-Based Embryo models (SCBEM), for example within “Holland’s Next Embryo Model”, opening up a societal dialogue about possibilities and (ethical) concerns of human SCBEMs. He is advisor for consortia on gametes and gastruloids, and main organizer of the Dutch international embryo model meeting (Nijmegen 2025, Utrecht 2026).
