CV Science

Christophe GINESTIER PhD Oncology, Breast Stem Cells

Course and current status

Since 2020       Director of Research (DR2) with tenure, INSERM, France

Since 2019       Scientific Collaborator at Institut Paoli-Calmettes, France

Since 2018       Head of the Epithelial Stem Cells and Cancer Lab, CRCM, France

2017                Accreditation to lead Research (French HDR), Aix-Marseille Univ

2013-2020        Senior Scientist (CR1) with tenure, INSERM, France

                        Breast stem cell group leader, CRCM, France

2009-2013        Junior Scientist (CR2) with tenure, INSERM, France

                        Molecular Oncology Lab (Head: Dr Daniel Birnbaum), CRCM, France

2006-2009        Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Michigan,

Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, USA.

                        Prof. Max S Wicha (Advisor), Department of Internal Medecine

2002-2005        PhD in Oncology, Aix-Marseille University, France

                        Dr Daniel Birnbaum (PhD supervisor), INSERM Unit (U519), Marseille

2000-2002        MSc, Biochemistry, Aix-Marseille University, France

Scientific summary

Role of breast cancer stem cell in mammary carcinogenesis

My scientific project is focused on understanding the various steps of breast carcinogenesis development. I study the hierarchical relationships between cells in normal and malignant breast epithelium in order to gain insight into the processes that underlie tumor initiation and development, and metastasis formation. The primary aim is to characterize and to understand the regulation of mammary epithelial stem cells since these are likely to be the targets of cancer-initiating events, and may be the underlying tumorigenic cells in breast cancers. The secondary aim is to characterize the breast cancer stem cell population of various tumor subtypes to identify new markers and therapeutic targets and use the cancer stem cell concept at the clinical level to manage the disease.