A stem cell is an immature cell capable of transforming into different types of specialized cells in the body. They can be compared to “base cells,” similar to seeds that can grow into different plants. In the context of blood, we talk about hematopoietic stem cells, which are found in the bone marrow. They have the ability to produce: Red blood cells (which carry oxygen) White blood cells (which defend against infections) Platelets (which help blood clot) These cells play an essential role, particularly in the treatment of certain leukemias, such as bone marrow transplantation, which involves replacing diseased cells with healthy cells from a donor.

Accueil A new Institute dedicated to combating Leukemia Medical-scientific program

Medical-scientific program

Q: Is leukemia a blood cancer?

Yes, leukemia is a type of blood cancer. More precisely, it is a cancer that affects the bone marrow, the organ inside the bones responsible for producing blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). In leukemia, certain blood cells develop abnormally and uncontrollably. These leukemic cells gradually invade the blood and bone marrow, preventing the normal production of other blood cells. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, frequent infections, or bleeding.

Q: What do basic, translational, and clinical research mean?

Basic research: This is research conducted in the laboratory, often on cells, genes, or animals. Its goal is to better understand the biological mechanisms of leukemia. Translational research: This bridges basic research and patient care, applying laboratory findings to develop new treatments or approaches for patients. Clinical research: This research is conducted with patients, often through clinical trials. It allows testing new treatments, drugs, or diagnostic methods to determine if they are effective and safe.

Four missions of the Leukemia Institute

Research

Foster scientific and medical innovation

Care

Provide personalized treatments based on the latest advances and improve patients’ quality of life.

Education

Share knowledge with healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients.

Innovation

Turn discoveries into concrete solutions.

Our goals

Cure leukemia at all stages of life

1 Identify predisposing factors for leukemia and provide preventive treatment

2 Understand the heterogeneity of leukemias and develop innovative treatments

3 Explore the mechanisms of treatment resistance

4 Improve patients’ quality of life

Our research areas

Basic

Axis 1: MECHANISMS

Basic biology

Decipher the heterogeneity of leukemias using a multi-omics approach
Identify intrinsic vulnerabilities of leukemias
Explore the cellular consequences of therapeutic stresses

Axis 2: MICROENVIRONMENT

Stem cells and microenvironment

Study cellular interactions between leukemic cells, stroma, and immune effectors
Explore the cellular consequences of therapeutic stresses

Translational

Axis 3: PRECISION

Therapeutic agents and combinations

Tester des traitements innovants sur des cellules primaires ou sur des modèles pré-cliniques
Identifier des combinaisons de traitements prometteuses et valider des biomarqueurs

Axis 4: PREDISPOSITION

Prevention and precision medicine

Identify patients with germline predisposing conditions
Conduct longitudinal somatic studies

Clinical

Axis 5: TRIALS

Early clinical trials

Develop innovative trials for precision medicine
Integrate biological data into clinical trials

Axis 6: CARE

Improving care pathways

Implement a post-treatment follow-up program
Explore quality of life measures in collaboration with patient associations

Categories of the Institute’s internal call for projects

Bottleneck removal

This category aims to support projects with high potential that are still at an early stage. It provides funding for exploratory work requiring initial support to generate proof-of-concept data, often essential for accessing more conventional funding. This mechanism offers maximum flexibility, with rolling submissions and a budget of up to €30,000 per project.

Synergy

This category encourages collaboration between multiple teams, notably between basic and clinical research, in order to promote integrated approaches.

Early clinical trials

This category supports early studies, such as phase I trials or drug repurposing projects, specifically targeting needs not covered by other funding sources.

Technology transfer

This category is aimed at projects with high commercialization potential, including possible patent filing or industrial partnership.

Our research projects

Adaptive somatic genetic rescue in Fanconi anemia

Lise Larcher

Pathogenesis of secondary leukemias

Marie de Tersant

JAK inhibition intrinsic and extrinsic effects in skin cancer

JAK inhibition results in increased risk of skin cancer through MAPK pathway activation, while positively remodelling the tumor immune microenvironment to create new therapeutic avenues in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Hélène Pasquer

Host foundation and founding members

Frequently Asked Questions

Is leukemia a blood cancer?

Yes, leukemia is a type of blood cancer. More precisely, it is a cancer that affects the bone marrow, the organ inside the bones responsible for producing blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets).

In leukemia, certain blood cells develop abnormally and uncontrollably. These leukemic cells gradually invade the blood and bone marrow, preventing the normal production of other blood cells. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, frequent infections, or bleeding.

What do basic, translational, and clinical research mean?

Basic research: This is research conducted in the laboratory, often on cells, genes, or animals. Its goal is to better understand the biological mechanisms of leukemia.
Translational research: This bridges basic research and patient care, applying laboratory findings to develop new treatments or approaches for patients.
Clinical research: This research is conducted with patients, often through clinical trials. It allows testing new treatments, drugs, or diagnostic methods to determine if they are effective and safe.

What are stem cells?

A stem cell is an immature cell capable of transforming into different types of specialized cells in the body. They can be compared to “base cells,” similar to seeds that can grow into different plants.

In the context of blood, we talk about hematopoietic stem cells, which are found in the bone marrow. They have the ability to produce:

Red blood cells (which carry oxygen)
White blood cells (which defend against infections)
Platelets (which help blood clot)

These cells play an essential role, particularly in the treatment of certain leukemias, such as bone marrow transplantation, which involves replacing diseased cells with healthy cells from a donor.