An interview with Peter Rugg-Gunn.

Peter Rugg-Gunn, a Group Leader and Head of Public Engagement at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK, discusses his career path and research interests in an interview. He focuses on the epigenome during early human development and is involved in establishing guidance in stem cell-based embryomodels. Rugg-Gunn highlights his research on the epigenetic stability of human embryonic stem cells and his postdoctoral work in Canada. He also discusses the differences in stem cell research policies between the US and Canada and his findings on bivalent chromatin modifications in embryonic stem cells. Rugg-Gunn emphasizes the importance of public engagement and policy-making in scientific research and his involvement in these areas. The text also provides an overview of the research activities of Rugg-Gunn's group, which focuses on understanding the establishment of the epigenome in human development and its impact on embryo development. They use human stem cells, embryo models, and embryos to study the molecular pathways involved in the initiation of epigenetic processes. The group is part of the HDBI, a consortium funded by Wellcome that supports research on human developmental biology and promotes collaboration among research groups. The group leader is also an Editor at Development, a journal that publishes important papers in the field. They believe that the field of human development will continue to grow and evolve, with diverse areas of expertise and the development of embryo models contributing to new insights. [Extracted from the article]