Our laboratory is dedicated to the understanding of biological complexity through the dissection of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in complex biological systems. The strength of the TAGC unit is to bring together experts in computational biology and experts in cellular, molecular and developmental biology to address physiological and pathological questions. The computational research and developments performed at TAGC are thus inspired, validated and improved by challenging biological problems related to human health. The strategy defined by the TAGC unit has already led to technical and conceptual improvements in bioinformatics and in genomics. The current research project is organized along two main research thematic axes: 1) bioinformatics and genomics of molecular networks; 2) genetics and genomics of multifactorial diseases. The research lines of our laboratory are founded upon a unique strength and specificity integrating bioinformatics and lab-based genomics, supported by a state-of-the-art transcriptomics and genomics core facility. The main challenge is to aggregate the skills and knowledge of these diverse components in order to create a synergy around a common biological question aiming at the elucidation of particular complex biological systems.

A constant effort was done to maintain our equipment up to date for genomics and bioinformatics. The number of computing cores has been increased and the computational infrastructure has been made more secure. Our recent involvement in the "Institut Français de Bioinformatique" (IFB), a national infrastructure dedicated to bioinformatics allows us to improve and transfer the bioinformatic tools developed in the laboratory to the nationwide IFB network. New NGS sequencer was installed to facilitate the development of new approaches, to speed up our sequencing approaches, to respond to national solicitations, and to maintain the costs as low as possible.

The unit actively participates in the structuring of the research at the Aix-Marseille University (AMU) and its activity is fully consistent with the Inserm strategic plan.  TAGC is a member of both AMU Institutes for Rare Diseases (MarMaRa), for Cancer and Immunology (ICI) as well as the interdisciplinary Turing Centre for Living Systems institute(CENTURI), which is a Convergence institute funded by the PIA2. Moreover, the laboratory is affiliated to the genetics, genomics and bioinformatics institute at Inserm (IT GGB), and we are involved in the Inserm national consortium GenOmics variability in heaLth and Disease (GOLD).

Inserm transfert manages our relationship and agreements with private companies including framework agreements and PhD fellowships. There is a continuum between the care structure (Hematology & Cellular Therapy Unit at Conception Hospital in Marseille) and the TAGC via translational research in hematology with the main objectives: 1) to understand the tumor escape mechanisms to both chemo and immunotherapy, 2) identify prognosis factors more particularly regarding sepsis in neutropenic patients, 3) development of novel treatment via the collaboration with innovative Biotech companies (Advanced BioDesign, Biocytex). 

In the coming years, the laboratory will continue to decipher the processes of genome regulation. We will continue to decipher the pathogenic processes in various multifactorial pathologies. The objective is to go further in the characterization of variants. It is clear that we will have to go further in the identification of therapeutic targets/drug candidates while promoting industrial and clinical partnerships in order to valorize the research achievements.

AXIS 1 – BIOINFORMATICS AND GENOMICS OF MOLECULAR NETWORKS

A major question in molecular biology is to understand how precise regulation of gene expression during normal development and cell differentiation is achieved by the combined action of different regulatory elements. The quest for those elements, their deciphering and mapping as well as the thorough understanding of their coordinated functioning, constitute an important aspect of the research of the Axis 1.  Beyond the understanding of gene regulation, investigating network perturbations to comprehend phenotype emergence is the other challenge tackled in Axis 1.

AXIS 2 – GENETICS AND GENOMICS OF MULTIFACTORIAL DISEASES

This axis aims at identifying genes and mechanisms underlying the complex phenotypes including aging and multifactorial diseases notably in the scope of infectious diseases (malaria, Chagas disease, sepsis), diabetic cardiomyopathies or hematological malignancies (lymphoma, leukemia) in order to  propose strategies for personalized indication or development of novel therapeutic approaches. Indeed, integration of our data will lead to the identification of novel biomarkers that can be used to predict the risk of disease, to improve early detection of disease and diagnostic classification, to refine treatment indication and monitoring of therapeutic interventions. The development of new treatments is crucial because there are mechanisms of escape or resistance against existing therapy.

         Our activities are fully in line with the strategic plans set up by Inserm and the Aix-Marseille University. Indeed, our activities are based on the most fundamental approaches as well as clinical and population health research.

Christophe Chevillard, director of the joint INSERM-AMU unit, TAGC UMR_S 1090