For the second time, Pr. Blanpain was granted a funding from the European Research Council (ERC). Named EXPAND, this new project – a consolidator grant – aims to define the cellular dynamics leading to tissue expansion.
Cédric Blanpain had already got an ERC starting grant in 2007 for the Cancerstem project. During his first ERC Starting Grant (CancerStem, 2007-2012), Blanpain and colleagues uncovered new populations of stem cells and progenitor cells in the epidermis, prostate and mammary gland, and identified the cancer cell of origin in these different tissues. Using novel genetic approaches, they demonstrated the existence of cancer stem cells within their natural microenvironment and identified intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms regulating their functions.
Now, in his new ERC Consolidator Grant (EXPAND, 2014-2019), he studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating tissue expansion and cell fate decision during growth and repair of epithelial tissues.