Université libre de Bruxelles

Stem cells ensure the development of the different tissues during morphogenesis and their maintenance during adult life. Stem cells have the unique capacity to self-renew and to differentiate into the different cell lineages that constitute their tissue of origin. Stem cells are also critical for regenerating tissue after injuries.

We are using multidisciplinary approach including lineage tracing, clonal analysis and molecular characterization to uncover the existence and study the fate of stem cells in different tissues during development homeostasis and repair.

We are using the same developmental approaches to uncover the cellular of origin of the most common cancers in human as well as to understand the mechanisms that regulate tumor heterogeneity, metastasis and resistance to therapy.