Publication in Nature 2015 : the cells at the origin of breast cancers identified

Van Keymeulen A, Lee M.Y., Ousset M, Rorive S, Brohée S, Wuidart A, Bouvencourt G, Giraddi R, Dubois C, Salmon I, Sotiriou C, Phillips W.A., Blanpain C.
Reactivation of multipotency by oncogenic PIK3CA induces breast tumor heterogeneity.
Nature 2015  Sep 3;525(7567):119-23. doi: 10.1038/nature14665. Epub 2015 Aug 12.
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Publication in Nature Medicine 2015 : new genetic alterations involved in the development of skin squamous cell carcinoma uncovered

Nassar D, Latil M, Boeckx B, Lambrechts D, Blanpain C.
Genomic landscape of carcinogen and gentically-induced mouse skin squamous cell carcinoma.
Nat Med. 2015 Aug;21(8):946-54. doi: 10.1038/nm.3878. Epub 2015 Jul 13.
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Publication in cell stem cell 2015 : Sox9 gene is a key in skin cancer

Larsimont JC, Youssef  KK, Sánchez-Danés A, Sukumaran V,  Defrance M, Delatte B; Liagre M, Marine JC, Lippens S, Guerin C, Del Marmol V, Vanderwinden JM, Fuks F & Blanpain C.  Sox9 controls renewal of oncogene targeted cells and links tumor initiation and invasion.  Cell Stem Cell. 2015 Jul 2;17(1):60-73. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2015.05.008. Epub 2015 Jun 18.
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Grant received from the Fonds Erasme : convention d’excellence 2015-2021

A biomedical research group led by Prof. Isabelle Salmon, Head of the pathologic anatomy service at the Erasme Hospital, was granted a 1.800.000 euros subsidy in order to analyse the tumoral heterogeneity in the patients-derivated xenografts and their incidence for the specialised medicine.  The lab of stem cells and cancer is very active in this nice project.  Project presentation on the Fonds Erasme web site

An EMBO long-term fellowship for Maylis Raphael

Maylis Raphael has been working in the lab as a post-doctoral researcher since 2015.  The fellowship she received from EMBO, a prestigious organization of more than 1800 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences, will permit her to carry on her research on the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT).

“Ma démarche scientifique est celle d’un agnostique”

Portrait of Pr. Cédric Blanpain by Philippe Lambert in La Recherche, n°497, March 2015.  PDF

The future of scientific research in Belgium

Pr. Cédric Blanpain was invited by Ms. Christine Defraigne, President of the Belgian Senate, to give a talk during a seminar about the future of the scientific research in Belgium.  Here is the content of his intervention: PDF

Publication in Cell Stem Cell 2015 : a new mechanism involved in tumour initiation, growth and progression in skin squamous cell carcinoma uncovered

Beck B, Lapouge G, Rorive S, Drogat B, Desaedelaere K, Delafaille S, Dubois C, Salmon I, Willekens K, Marine JC, Blanpain C.
Different levels of Twist1 regulate skin tumor initiation, stemness, and progression.
Cell Stem Cell. 2015 Jan 8;16(1):67-79. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2014.12.002.
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Publication in Nature Cell Biology 2014 : definition of the early lineage segregation during early mammalian heart development

Lescroart F, Chabab S, Lin X, Rulands S, Paulissen C, Rodolosse A, Auer H, Achouri Y, Dubois C, Bondue A, Simons BD, Blanpain C.
Early lineage restriction in temporally distinct populations of Mesp1 progenitors during mammalian heart development.
Nat Cell Biol. 2014 Sep;16(9):829-40. doi: 10.1038/ncb3024. Epub 2014 Aug 24.
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A book edited for Inbev-Baillet Latour Fund’s 40th birthday

The InBev-Baillet Latour fund is one of the most important supporters of the Lab of stem cells and cancer.  For its 40th birthday, it published a book where the research and main discoveries done in the lab are detailed : PDF

Publication in Nature 2014 : the molecular mechanisms regulating tumour initiation and cancer stem cells functions in skin squamous cell carcinoma uncovered

Publication in Nature 2014 : the molecular mechanisms regulating tumour initiation and cancer stem cells functions in skin squamous cell carcinoma uncovered

Boumahdi S, Driessens G, Lapouge G, Rorive S, Nassar D, Le Mercier M, Delatte B, Caauwe A, Lenglez S, Nkusi E, Brohée S, Salmon I, Dubois C, del Marmol V, Fuks F, Beck B, Blanpain C.
SOX2 controls tumour initiation and cancer stem-cell functions in squamous-cell carcinoma.
Nature. 2014 Jul 10;511(7508):246-50. doi: 10.1038/nature13305. Epub 2014 Jun 8.
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ERC consolidator grant to Pr. Cedric Blanpain

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.

Mathilde Latil received the “Prix pour les Jeunes Chercheurs” award from the Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation

Interview with Bernard Rentier and Cédric Blanpain : “la recherche scientifique est-elle mal-aimée?”

Is scientific research unloved?  Pr. Bernard Rentier, Rector of the Université of Liège (Belgium) and Pr. Cédric Blanpain don’t share the same opinion on this subject : La Libre Belgique, 24 May 2013

Portrait of Pr. Cédric Blanpain in “Le Vif L’Express” : “Le hasard ne sourit qu’à ceux qui y sont préparés”

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Portrait of Prof. Cédric Blanpain in “Knack” : “Ik zou graag honderdduizenden mensen genezen”

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Pr. Cédric Blanpain chosen by Nature as one of the 10 scientists who mattered in 2012

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Publication in Nature Cell Biology 2012 : molecular mechanisms leading to basal cell carcinoma initiation uncovered

Publication in Nature Cell Biology 2012 : molecular mechanisms leading to basal cell carcinoma initiation uncovered

Youssef KK, Lapouge G, Bouvrée K, Rorive S, Brohée S, Appelstein O, Larsimont JC, Sukumaran V, Van de Sande B, Pucci D, Dekoninck S, Berthe JV, Aerts S, Salmon I, del Marmol V, Blanpain C.
Adult interfollicular tumour-initiating cells are reprogrammed into an embryonic hair follicle progenitor-like fate during basal cell carcinoma initiation.
Nat Cell Biol. 2012 Dec;14(12):1282-94. doi: 10.1038/ncb2628. Epub 2012 Nov 25.
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Publication in Nature Cell Biology 2012 : multipotent and unipotent Stem Cells (SCs) contributing to prostate postnatal development identified

Publication in Nature Cell Biology 2012 : multipotent and unipotent Stem Cells (SCs) contributing to prostate postnatal development identified

Ousset M, Van Keymeulen A, Bouvencourt G, Sharma N, Achouri Y, Simons BD, Blanpain C.
Multipotent and unipotent progenitors contribute to prostate postnatal development.
Nat Cell Biol. 2012 Oct 14. doi: 10.1038/ncb2600. [Epub ahead of print]
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Cancer Stem Cell Course by Pr. Jacques Boniver and Pr. Cédric Blanpain – Collège Belgique

Online Course

Publication in Nature 2012 : a new stem cell population in the skin epidermis responsible for tissue repair has been identified

Publication in Nature 2012 : a new stem cell population in the skin epidermis responsible for tissue repair has been identified

Mascré G, Dekoninck S, Drogat B, Youssef KK, Broheé S, Sotiropoulou PA, Simons BD, Blanpain C.
Distinct contribution of stem and progenitor cells to epidermal maintenance.
Nature. 2012 Sep 13;489(7415):257-62.
PubMed | PDF | PDF (Supplementary Info)

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Pr. Cédric Blanpain elected as EMBO member

EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) is an organisation of more than 1.800 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences.   Every year, the organisation elects new members within a large number of European top-scientists candidates.  The EMBO membership is one of most high excellence recognition in life sciences research.

“Télévie? Parole de chercheur”

Home stretch for the Télevie 2012 campaign : let’s speak the researcher.  Le Soir, 21 avril 2012

Pr. Cédric Blanpain received the 2012 ISSCR Outstanding Young Investigator Award

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) awarded him for his exceptional achievements as an early-career stem cell researcher.

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Publication in Nature 2011 : the vascular niche and a VEGF/Nrp1 loop regulates the initiation and stemness of skin tumours

The vascular niche and a VEGF/Nrp1 loop regulates the initiation and stemness of skin tumours
Beck B , Driessens G, Goossens G, Kass Youssef K, Loges S, Caauwe A, Kuchnio A, Sotiropoulou PA, Candi A, Mascre M, Haigh JJ, Carmeliet P, and Blanpain C.
Nature 2011 Oct 9;479(7372):189-93. doi: 10.1038/nature10573.
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Publication in Nature 2011 : distinct stem cells contribute to mammary gland development and maintenance

Distinct stem cells contribute to mammary gland development and maintenance.
Van Keymeulen A, Rocha AS, Ousset M , Beck B, Bouvencourt G, Rock J , Sharma N, Dekoninck S & Blanpain C.
Nature 2011 Oct 19;478(7369):399-403. doi: 10.1038/nature10525.
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Publication in PNAS 2011 : Identifying the cellular origin of squamous skin tumors

Identifying the cellular origin of squamous skin tumors
Lapouge G, Kass Youssef K, Vokaer B, Achouri Y, Michaux C, Sotiropoulou PA, Blanpain C.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011 May 3;108(18):7431-6. Epub 2011 Apr 18.
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Publication in J Cell Biol 2011 : heart stem cells differentiation

Defining the earliest step of cardiovascular progenitor specification during embryonic stem cell differentiation.
Bondue A, Tännler S, Chiapparo G, Chabab S, Ramialison M, Paulissen C, Beck B, Harvey R, Blanpain C.
J Cell Biol 2011 Mar 7;192(5):751-65.
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Pr. Cédric Blanpain becomes one of the first 15 principal investigators awarded by the Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO)

WELBIO 2011 press release

Pr. Blanpain chosen as the 9th Belgian of the year 2010

“Le Belge de l’année”, Le Soir, 31 décembre 2010. PDF

Publication in Nature Cell Biol 2010 : accelerated DNA repair

Bcl2 and accelerated DNA repair mediates resistance of hair follicle bulge stem cells to DNA damage-induced cell death.
Sotiropoulou PA, Candi A, Mascré G, De Clercq S, Kass Youseff K, Lapouge G, Dahl E, Semeraro C, Denecker G, Marine JC  and Blanpain C
Nat Cell Biol 2010 Jun;12(6):572-82. Epub 2010 May 16.
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Publication in Nature Cell biology 2010 : identification of the cell lineage at the origin of basal cell carcinoma

Identification of the cell lineage at the origin of basal cell carcinoma
Kass Youseff K, Van Keymeulen A, Lapouge G, Beck B, Achouri Y, Michaux C,, Sotiropoulou P and Blanpain C.
Nature Cell Biology 2010  Mar;12(3):299-305. Epub 2010 Feb 14.
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