Cédric Blanpain traces the fate of stem cells, from their renewal to their differentiation, in order to understand their function in embryonic development and tissue regeneration, and to elucidate their role in the evolution of cancers.

Stem cells: a key player in cell development and renewal

Regardless of our age, most of our cells are younger than us. Why? Because every day our body eliminates and replaces billions of senescent, abnormal or damaged cells.

In all multicellular living beings, stem cells play a central role in this permanent renewal. They are also a key player in embryonic development.

Stem cells have the unique ability to self-renew to generate other stem cells, and to differentiate into different cell lines, to perform specific biological functions.

How can this homeostatic process be hijacked and allow the growth of cancerous tumours? This is precisely the subject of Cédric Blanpain's innovative research.

From the discovery of cancer stem cells

Cédric Blanpain discovered the existence of cancer cells with self-renewal and differentiation properties, similar to those of stem cells. He was able to demonstrate the involvement of these multitasking cells in various skin and breast cancers.

This discovery moves us away from the classic oncogenesis model, according to which a differentiated cell acquires random mutations and proliferates, to give rise to a long line of cancerous cells.

Cancer stem cells are thought to be at the origin of many types of cancer and of the diversity of cancer cells at the very heart of the tumour.

They would be responsible for the growth of tumours, their resistance to treatment, their recurrence and the occurrence of metastases.

Follow the fate of normal and cancerous stem cells

Supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation as part of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences, Cédric Blanpain and his team have set themselves the task of monitoring the fate of stem cells in different tissues, during embryonic development, cell renewal and of tissue repair.

Observing the fate of these cells, from their duplication to their differentiation, has proven to be crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying tumor growth.

This research offers the prospect of improving the diagnostic accuracy of cancers and better targeting treatments, to make them more effective, especially in the face of recurrences.

Finally, the stimulation of natural tissue repair is another of the many potential clinical applications of Cédric Blanpain's work.

Cédric Blanpain in a few words

Doctor of Medicine, Cédric Blanpain is undertaking a thesis on a cell receptor involved in HIV infection. In 2002, he received the Prix Galien de Pharmacologie for his work.

It was during his post-doctorate at Rockefeller University in New York that he focused on an object of study of which he would quickly become an eminent specialist: stem cells.

Back at the Free University of Brussels in 2006, he created the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Human and Molecular Biology.

Cédric Blanpain and his team then distinguished themselves with crucial discoveries, demonstrating the involvement of stem cells in the development of cancers.

In 2012, supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation as part of the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences, researchers developed innovative cell tracing methods.

Cédric Blanpain became Director of the Stem Cells and Cancer Laboratory in 2017.

Never losing sight of the potential clinical applications of his work, in 2018 he created the company Chromacure, dedicated to the development of new drugs against cancer.

  • 2001 Ph.D. in Medical Sciences, Free University of Brussels (ULB) (Belgium)

  • 2002 Medical doctor certified for the practice of Internal Medicine, Free University of Brussels (ULB) (Belgium)

  • 2002 Postdoctoral Internship, Pr. Elaine Fuchs' Laboratory, University of Columbia, New York City (USA)

  • 2006 Belgian Fund for Scientific Research investigator (Belgium)

  • 2006 Team leader at the Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Human and Molecular Biology, Free University of Brussels (Belgium)

  • 2006 Young Investigator Award, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

  • 2008 Starting Grant, European Research Council

  • 2012 European Molecular Biology Organization member

  • 2012 Outstanding Young Investigator Award, International Society of Stem Cell Research

  • 2012 Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences, Bettencourt Schueller Foundation

Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences

The Liliane Bettencourt Prize for Life Sciences rewards each year a researcher under the age of 45 for the excellence of their work and their remarkable contribution to their field of scientific research. This prize is awarded, depending on the year, to a researcher based in France or working in another European country. Thirty winners have been awarded since 1997. From 2023, prize rewards the laureate up to 100,000 euros.

All the award-winners