In 2015, the 4D Nucleome Network was begun with the goal to develop and apply approaches to map the structure and dynamics of the human and mouse genomes in space and time with the goal of gaining deeper mechanistic insights into how the nucleus is organized and functions.

The 4DN program was conceived as two 5-year phases, the first phase focusing on the establishment of the tools and principles for spatiotemporal mapping of the architecture and the second phase emphasizing the relationship between spatial organization and function.