Intoducing lab UMR_S1140

The UMR_S 1140 headed by P. Gaussem (PU-PH) with C. Boisson-Vidal as deputy director, is located in the Faculty of Pharmacy of Paris.
The Unit is in close connection with clinical and biological poles of four university hospital centres (CHU) of the AP-HP in Paris and from the COMUE (University of Paris), namely Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou (HEGP, Paris 75015), Hôpital Cochin-Hôtel Dieu (Paris 75014), Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades (Paris 75015), Hôpital Lariboisière (Paris 75010) and the Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center (J. Larghero), Hôpital Saint-Louis (Paris 75010).

Its strength is the close relationship between researchers, biologists and physicians within the research unit, working in haematology, anaesthesiology, cardiology, pneumology, and intensive care departments. This interaction is facilitated by translational researches with the objectives to understand the mechanisms of action (thrombosis, platelet generation, cell physiology) to the development of new and innovative therapeutic/diagnostic approaches.

The main mission of UMR_S1140 is to develop new therapeutic strategies in haemostasis and cardiovascular diseases through deep knowledge in the field of molecular mechanisms of haemostasis and vasculogenesis, and of management of antithrombotic drugs to notably decrease drug-related adverse events, with strong clinical application potential.

2 major themes are identified:

  1. Haemostasis, angiogenesis and vascular differentiation (Theme 1, coordinator David Smadja)
  2. Haemostasis and antithrombotics agents (Theme 2, coordinator: Pascale Gaussem). 
    We developed experimental and clinical approaches in the fields of ischemic diseases / accelerated vascular ageing and thrombosis / bleeding.

Theme 1 – Haemostasis, angiogenesis and vascular differentiation

The vascular biotherapy group focused its activity on both fundamental and translational approaches to understand vessel pathophysiology in diseases. The main projects are organised as follows:

  1. to identify new interactions of haemostasis with the angiogenic process,
  2. to analyse the functional vasculogenic capacities of Very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs),
  3. to evaluate the role of vasculogenic cells in the haemocompatibility of bioprosthetic valves and mechanical support,
  4. to understand the pathophysiology of arterial and venous thrombosis.

Theme 2 – Haemostasis and antithrombotic agents

This research is supported by fundamental projects on platelet birth and signalling, coagulation and fibrinolysis and by clinical research on antithrombotic agents. The main projects are organised as follows:

  1. to identify new mechanisms of platelet production from MK in a therapeutic perspective,
  2. to analyse MK and platelet signalling related to cAMP/cGMP pathways and to characterise their interactions with platelet microdomains,
  3. to characterise new antithrombotic agents and develop antidotes,
  4. to perform a clinical research on antithrombotics and on the role of platelets in thrombosis and fibrinolysis.
  5. to develop in vitro tests to manage patients in emergency haemorrhagic situations.

Part 1: Platelet birth and mechanisms involved in the regulation of cyclic nucleotide pathway
Part 2: Haemostasis and response to antithrombotic drugs.

The fundamental research activity remains localised at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Paris, which hosts scientific laboratories working in the field of drugs at the interface of chemistry and biology. The “Plateforme mutualisée de l’Institut du Médicament” (P-MIM) provides the unit with core facilities: animal housing facility, microscopy, molecular biology and cellular analysis (flow cytometry and Bioplex). The unit has the benefit of small animal imaging, Cytometry and Immunobiology (CYBIO) and Proeomics 3P5 facilities of the Cochin Biomedical Research Institute. 

The researchers have also access to the clinical services of partner hospitals, the Clinical Investigation Center of the HEGP and Saint Louis Hospitals, and the haematology department of the HEGP (headed by P. Gaussem).