SYMPOSIA

Leo van Grunsven is recognized for his research on liver fibrosis and liver regeneration. He has studied the molecular mechanisms regulating the activation of hepatic stellate cells and their role in fibrosis progression, contributing to the development of potential antifibrotic therapies and strategies to enhance liver regeneration.

She has made significant contributions to cancer research, focusing on epigenetics and immune evasion. Her work has demonstrated how epigenetic modifications can influence the immune response against tumors, and she has identified new therapeutic targets to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapies across various types of cancer.

He has made significant contributions to the understanding of liver cancer and liver regeneration. Using RNA interference screenings, he identified genes that suppress liver tumors and promoted strategies to restore liver function without the need for transplants. Additionally, his research on cellular senescence has revealed key mechanisms in preventing tumor development.

Nic Tapon has been pivotal in studying the Hippo pathway and its role in growth control. He identified regulators like Salvador, essential for cell-cycle exit and apoptosis. He discovered Kibra as a new component in the Salvador/Warts/Hippo network and elucidated the roles of Fat and Expanded in growth control. His work has provided deep insights into how mechanical tension and apical-basal polarity regulate tissue architecture, contributing to developmental processes and tumor suppression.

He is a prominent figure in cancer genetics, known for his research on the tumor suppressor gene p53. He demonstrated that p53 is essential for apoptosis induced by cytotoxic agents and described oncogene-induced senescence as a mechanism of tumor suppression. His work has been fundamental to the development of personalized therapies and preclinical models using tools such as CRISPR and RNAi.

She has made fundamental contributions to cancer biology through the study of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). She discovered that the lncRNA SAMMSON is essential for the survival of melanoma cells but is absent in normal tissues, making it a promising therapeutic target. Her work has opened new avenues for the development of RNA-based targeted therapies.

Her work focuses on molecular neuro-oncology, with an emphasis on the study of gliomas and other brain tumors. She has contributed to understanding how epigenetic and molecular factors regulate tumor progression and treatment response. Her scientific output includes key studies on regulatory proteins, cell signaling pathways, and resistance mechanisms in brain cancer, positioning her as a leading reference in the search for new therapeutic targets in neuro-oncolo

He is a leader in pancreatic cancer research, known for developing mouse models and pancreatic organoids that faithfully replicate the human disease. These models have been essential for studying tumor biology and testing new therapies. In addition, his work has revealed how the tumor microenvironment influences cancer progression and treatment response.

Anthony Newman is a specialist in scientific publishing and academic communication, with an outstanding career in the publishing industry. He currently works at Elsevier, one of the world’s leading scientific publishers, where he has contributed to the strategic development of editorial content and digital solutions for the research community. His expertise combines knowledge in editorial innovation, open access, impact metrics, and science policy, positioning him as a global reference in the dissemination and evaluation of scientific knowledge.

His research has focused on the structure and function of cancer-related proteins. He has studied how protein–protein interactions and post-translational modifications affect the function of key proteins involved in cell proliferation and survival, providing valuable insights for the design of specific inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents.

Georg Halder was pivotal in discovering the Hippo pathway, which regulates organ size, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. His lab identified key regulators like Merlin and Expanded, which are essential for pathway activation. Halder’s recent research has focused on developing pharmacological inhibitors of this pathway as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.

Jean-Christophe Marine has made significant contributions to melanoma biology, especially in the study of therapy resistance. His most notable discovery is the identification of a TCF4-dependent gene regulatory network that drives cross-resistance to both immune checkpoint blockade and targeted therapies. His work has also advanced the understanding of tumor plasticity and cellular hierarchy in melanoma, paving the way for combinatorial treatment strategies and addressing tumor progression and immune evasion.

INSERM–CRCM researcher specialized in pancreatic cancer (PDAC) has defined the roles of p8/NUPR1 and VMP1 in endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy, with an impact on tumor survival and chemotherapy response. He has also contributed to molecular stratification and to the study of stroma, metabolism, and organoids in PDAC. He participates in landmark and translational initiatives, such as the international guidelines on autophagy monitoring and therapeutic targets including NUPR1/PD-L1/BTN3A.

Robert Schwabe is a leading expert in liver pathobiology, whose research has reshaped our understanding of how chronic liver injury leads to fibrosis and cancer. His work on hepatic stellate cells has revealed their role in liver regeneration, metabolism, and immune signaling, and how they shape the tumor microenvironment. Schwabe’s development of genetic models has identified new targets for antifibrotic and anticancer therapies, advancing the field of liver disease treatment.