Translational research

Page mise à jour le 30/12/2014

The original concept behind Inserm / Université Paris-Sud Joint Research Unit 785 is to coordinate the efforts of fundamental researchers (biochemists, molecular biologists, and cell signalling specialists) with those of clinicians (hepatologists, surgeons, virologists, and pathologists) in order to improve current diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies in the field of liver pathologies and achieve significant benefits for patients. The unique location of the research unit in the heart of the Centre Hepato-Biliaire favors the integration of breakthrough discoveries and cutting-edge technologies into innovative diagnostic techniques and therapies. Our work covers all fields of liver pathogenesis, from acute or chronic liver failure, the management of viral infections, the diagnosis and treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancer, and liver transplantation, to disease recurrence following transplantation.

For this purpose, large databanks and specimen collections have been built up over time constituting valuable study materials in the context of a biobank that was recently set up in our center. The biobank provides facilities for the storage of both "solid" samples (frozen and paraffin-embedded fixed tissues) and "liquid" samples (plasma, sera, blood cells, cellular extracts [nucleic acids, proteins]). Large sample collections already exist and cover Hepatitis B / Hepatitis C, steatohepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic specimens. Appropriate administrative structures coordinate the storage and experimentation (Centre de recherche et d’investigation biologique - Centre for Research and Biological Investigations- [CRB and CIB]). Patient and clinical data associated with these specimens are collected in an encrypted manner in a large database that ensures the protection of patient confidentiality, the database being run under the supervision of a bioinformatics specialist.

To date, up to 30 national and international clinical protocols have been implemented by our centre (see our Clinical research section), some arising directly from the work of Inserm U785, such as a phase 2 clinical trial on the treatment of acute liver failure using an investigational drug called ALF-5755. Design of this compound is the result of more than 10 years of research which was able to demonstrate that ALF-5755, an agent derived from the HIP/PAP protein, promoted cell survival following apoptotic or oxidative stress and liver regeneration and displayed curative properties in an experimental hepatitis model.

New clinical protocols are currently being assessed by Inserm U785, and focus on:

  • improvements to diagnostic and follow-up tools using transcriptomic-, proteomic-, and UV (Ultra Violet) and IR (Infrared) spectroscopy-based molecular signatures;
  • enhancements to Petscan and scintigraphic imaging procedures;
  • novel therapeutic approaches using state-of-the-art gene transfer technologies.

The ultimate goal of our research is to offer targeted therapies and personalized treatment protocols based on an appropriate diagnostic and prognostic.