We investigate the development of the nervous system in the embryo and its deregulation in the context of pediatric cancers.
neuronal development topographic signaling axon guidance cell division cell migration tumorigenesis metastasis
© Frédérique PLAS / INMG / CNRS Photothèque
Polarization, which confers asymmetry at molecular, cellular and tissue scales, is a fundamental process establishing key features of biological systems. In multicellular organisms, symmetry breaking triggers the specification of embryonic body axes, providing general landmarks for subsequent morphogenetic programs. Cells and tissues acquire complex morphological and functional polarity features, which, remarkably, are highly precisely positioned within the general body landmarks. The lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms setting the spatial orientation of some selected polarity processes, taking place during the formation of the nervous system. We investigate the topography of progenitor cell divisions, and neuronal differentiation, using the developing spinal cord and sensorimotor circuits as a model. We also investigate how topographic cues impact on closely related pathological contexts such as the neuroblastoma, a neuro-developmental cancer arising from trunk neural cell crest, and the medulloblastoma arising from cerebellar progenitors . We exploit chick and mouse embryo animal models, combined with live imaging, cell and tissue cultures and molecular approaches.
Oncofactory is a start-up founded in 2016 as a spin-off of the Castellani lab, based on the work of Dr. Céline Delloye Bourgeois and Dr. Valérie Castellani at the NeuroMyoGene Institute in Lyon. Oncofactory offers an innovative in vivo platform suited for all cancers consisting in the creation of miniaturized replicas of patient tumors in an embryonic organism. Tumors are analyzed in the whole organism using 3D microscopy. Replicas can be collected back for a range of large scale molecular analysis. Using its unique technological platform Oncofactory evaluates the efficacy, studies the mechanisms of action of therapeutic candidates, helps the design of combi-therapies through a dedicated program combining transcriptomic analysis and its model of patient tumors replicas.
https://www.oncofactory.com/
Institut NeuroMyoGène
UCBL – CNRS UMR 5310 – INSERM U1217
Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie – 3ème étage – Couloir A
8 Avenue Rockefeller
F-69008 Lyon