Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

Role of Skeletal Stem Cells in Bone Repair

Objective

It is estimated that 2% of the population sustain fractures annually, which in Europe corresponds to approximately 15 millions fractures and in France 1 million fractures. Although bone exhibits strong regenerative properties, delayed unions and non-unions still occur at a frequency of 5 to 10% in all skeletal injuries leading to patient disability and high societal cost. Bone repair is dependent on the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal stem/progenitor cells. The exact origins and functions of these cells are not clearly understood. Our long-term goal is to elucidate the mechanisms of skeletal stem cell recruitment during bone regeneration in order to support the development of new cell based therapies for bone repair. In the past 10 years, I have established several mouse models of bone repair combined with cell lineage analyses in vivo. These approaches based on genetic labeling and bone transplantation allow tracking the fate of tissues and cells during bone development and repair. In Aim 1, we will track mesenchymal lineages in development and repair, in order to understand how adult skeletal stem cell populations are established in bone. Aim 2 will directly compare the contribution of local versus systemic sources of skeletal stem cells and the effects of environmental factors such as extreme trauma on their relative contributions. Aim 3 will functionally assess the molecular regulation of skeletal cell fate decisions within bone marrow and periosteum (which lines the outer surface of bone) during fracture healing.
Following my postdoctoral training, I have worked for 5 years at University of California San Francisco to develop an independent research program supported by extramural funding. This project will use my expertise accumulated over the years and research support is crucial to pursue my goals and establish a new research team at INSERM U781, Necker Hospital for Sick Children in Paris starting in the spring of 2010.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE
EU contribution
€ 100 000,00
Address
RUE DE TOLBIAC 101
75654 Paris
France

See on map

Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Annick Bertault (Ms.)
Links
Total cost
No data