Reconstitution of the corneal epithelium using chemically-induced direct lineage reprogramming for the treatment of bilateral and total limbal stem cell deficiency
Description: The RECOR project aims to develop a direct cellular reprogramming method to treat limbal stem cell deficiency, a corneal disease caused by the destruction of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESC). Limbal stem cell deficiency can cause bilateral blindness, which cannot be treated effectively with current strategies. The project proposes an alternative solution using direct reprogramming of autologous somatic cells using small molecules to generate LESCs and regenerate the corneal epithelium. Unlike indirect reprogramming using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), this method limits the risks of genomic mutation and tumorigenesis, while reducing costs. The project's strategy is based on identifying optimal combinations of small molecules using data from RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and bioinformatics analysis tools. Cells of different origins will be reprogrammed and evaluated for their ability to differentiate into LESCs and form a functional corneal epithelium in vitro and in vivo. The project offers an innovative approach to overcoming the current limitations of cell-based therapies, with the ambition of developing in situ reprogramming protocols, enabling the direct regeneration of stem cells on the damaged ocular surface.
Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche
Amount: €343,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: AAPG2025
Start date: 2026-01-05
Investigator: Damien GUINDOLET
Institution: HÔPITAL FONDATION ADOLPHE DE ROTHSCHILD
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: ANR-25-CE52-4560
OpenAlex ID: G6252216705