Embryonic Stem Cells: Self-renewal and Early Commitment

Our team examines the mechanisms of self-renewal and pluripotency in mouse and human embryonic stem cells. We aim to identify novel genes involved in the maintenance of the undifferentiated state and in the early commitment towards ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Another aspect of our work focuses on the regulation of the cell cycle, which shows unusual characteristics both in mouse and primate ES cells. We study the role of regulators of the G1- to S-phase transition in the maintenance ...

Deriving iPS cells in the rhesus monkey and guiding their differentiation into dopaminergic precursors prior to grafting into MPTP monkeys. Producing transgenic monkeys using Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-based vectors.

Investigating the mechanisms of STAT3-dependant self-renewal, the hallmark of mouse ES cells, and understanding why this pathway does not operate in primate, human and non human ES cells.

Research interests:

Transgenesis in the rhesus monkey

Investigating the function of cyclin E and cycin E-associated kinase activity in self-renewal and pluripotency in mouse and human ES cells

Investigating the role of transcription factors Lmx1a and Lmx1b in the differentiation of mouse and rhesus ES/iPS cells toward dopaminergic and serotonergic fates.

Deriving human ES cell lines from surnumerary human embryos. In charge of quality control and follow-up of research activities on human ES cells in accordance with current legislation.

Investigating the function of novel STAT3 target genes in the maintenance of mouse and human ES cells in the undifferentiated state

Cloning novel STAT3 target genes