Within the Immunology and Oncology axis, the molecular oncology group studies various aspects of the development and treatment of cancer in order to understand the mechanisms regulating genome stability, epigenetics, cellular metabolism and inflammation. This work aims to develop new therapeutic modalities and to identify promising pharmacological targets against cancer. The immunology group studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing immune cell differentiation and function, notably in T lymphocytes, in order to develop new cell and gene therapy approaches to treat cancers and autoimmune diseases.
Clinical research is extremely active within the axis, and great achievements have been made in order to improve the treatment of hematological cancers thanks to the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells and cell therapy based on T lymphocytes. The clinical expertise has notably led to the creation of the Center of Excellence in Cell Therapy (CETC), the Centre for Commercialisation of Cancer Immunotherapy (C3i) and the designation of Institut universitaire en hématologie-oncologie et en thérapie cellulaire (IHOT).
This strength in fundamental, translational and clinical research is also illustrated by the contribution of its researchers to several large-scale projects a mari usque ad mare such as the ThéCell network of the FRQS, the Stem Cell Network, CellCAN, and the National research program in transplant from Canada.