Intriguingly, trophoblast cells share some key similarities with carcinomas. These similarities include the ability to invade healthy tissues, the formation of new vessels and the promotion of an immunotolerant environment. A key biological question remains: do tumour cells repurpose the same genes and mechanisms that are critical for trophoblast invasion?
By using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing systems, we will genetically manipulate trophoblast stem cells and organoids to:

Identify the molecular signatures characteristics of invasive placental cells.
Unravel the common molecular pathways between trophoblast invasion and cancer metastasis.
Our results will provide fundamental insights into the cellular invasive mechanisms that coordinate placentation and the potential implication of these same mechanisms in tumour metastasis.