Asifa Akhtar is Director of the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg, Germany. She is currently also serving as the Vice-President of the Biology and Medicine Section of the Max Planck Society.
Asifa Akhtar’s research has elucidated the intricacies of epigenetic regulation, a complex process that orchestrates gene regulation at the right time and place. Her work has expanded our comprehension of the molecular underpinnings of epigenetic phenomena, with a focus on chromatin structure, histone modifications, and long noncoding RNAs. Her laboratory has made significant contributions to X chromosome regulation and epigenetic influences on metabolic processes. Her findings have shed new light on the interplay between gene expression, cellular function, and organismal homeostasis, with implications for understanding developmental disorders and cancer.
In recognition of her groundbreaking discoveries of the evolutionarily conserved principles driving epigenetic processes, Asifa Akhtar was awarded the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize in 2021, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2023, and the FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award in 2025.
Professional position
- Director, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Max Planck Society
- Vice-President, Biology and Medicine Section, Max Planck Society
