Congratulations to Stéphane Marcand's team (Telomeres and Chromosome Repair Laboratory/UMR SGCSR - iRCM) which has just received the prestigious label of the Foundation for Medical Research!
The label "FRM team" is awarded for three years and aims to finance innovative work in biology, with strong potential for application in human health.
The FRM label is granted as of October 1, 2022, and is associated with funding of 300,000 euros.
The research program of Stéphane Marcand's team aims to understand the multiple molecular mechanisms regulating DNA repair factors at telomeres. The uncontrolled action of these factors at telomeres is detrimental since it results in unstable chromosome fusions that lead to catastrophic mutational processes.
Mechanisms to prevent these fusions are essential to limit the development of cancers when telomeres shorten with age. Telomere protection is ensured by the synergy of several actors that have been identified in different organisms, from yeast to humans. However, the molecular mechanisms and the cooperation/redundancy between the components of telomere-protecting complexes are still poorly understood. Stéphane Marcand's team will study this central question of chromosome biology using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model.
The objective of this program is to determine the individual mechanisms established by proteins present at telomeres. In addition, this project will provide a better understanding of key players in genome integrity.