On November 18th, the Institut Pasteur held the Mini-Symposium: “The Human Embryo: Novel Perspectives in Research and Disease Mechanisms” associated with the annual meeting of the Institut Pasteur Stem Cell Initiative.
The morning symposium was covering the current status of research on the human embryo and human embryo models, including current challenges and technical innovations to study human development from fertilization to embryonic and fetal development. Leading international experts provided exciting insights on the creation on novel 3D human embryos atlases and biobanks, novel stem-cell based model to study early human development, fertility and sex determination to the ethical considerations on human embryo and stem cell research.
The afternoon was dedicated to the annual meeting of the IP Stem Cell Initiative. Six presentations were covering the breadth of research projects using stem cells on campus, from the development of novel stem cell based embryo models (Giada Mura, DSCB), using organ-on-chip to study the impact of microenvironment on infection (Remigiuiz Walocha, DSCB), the impact of early life stress on adult stem cell behaviour (Fabian Guendel, Immuno dept.), the role of blood factors in neural stem cell ageing (Lida Katpsimpardi, Neuro dept. / Institut Necker) or the role of large scale genome reorganization for stem cell totipotency regulation (Jack-Christophe Cossec, BCI). These presentations were followed by a brief historical overview on the study of small RNAs in C. Elegans by Germano Cecere (DSCB) to celebrate the recent Nobel Prize for the discovery of microRNAs.
The presentations were followed by a poster session at the François Jacob Atrium, providing a convivial and scientific moment to discuss ongoing projects and connect researchers across departments.
The abstracts and contact details of the participating researchers can be found at the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zxLPGjYQ35fJ0rafOsCG3Xmi3Wb2gh-U/view?usp=drive_link