Epigenetic changes, such as histone modification, chromatin remodeling and DNA methylation regulate gene expression and cell identity during development and post-natal life. Lorenzo is interested in mechanism by which epigenetic events are integrated at the chromatin level to determine the sub-sets of genes that are expressed upon the commitment of embryonic or adult stem cells toward specific cell lineages. Moreover, Lorenzo investigates how epigenetic drugs (e.g. histone deacetylase inhibitors) can selectively modulate gene expression in stem cells, by targeting genes marked by discrete epigenetic signatures.