Description of the thesis topic

The activity of brown and beige adipose tissues, known as “thermogenic” tissues, is positively correlated with cardiometabolic health in humans, making them potential therapeutic targets. Gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms that support their development in humans is therefore of major therapeutic interest. The aim of the thesis project is to decipher the cellular and molecular mechanisms supporting the development and activity of human beige adipose tissue. We will use a human beige adipose tissue organoid model recently developed by the team from cells derived from the vascular stromal fraction of human adipose tissue. In particular, we will study the role of different membrane receptors and their signaling pathways in the browning process. The various techniques used will include cell biology and genetic approaches (overexpression, invalidation), transcriptomics (bulk RNAseq, single cell RNAseq), biochemistry and imaging, as well as bioinformatic analyses. This project should enable the identification of key mechanisms for targeting and activating beige adipose tissue in humans.

Work Context

PhD on a research project funded by the ANR in teams 3 and 4 of Restore. This institute brings together more than a hundred people divided into five teams whose objective is to develop integrated and multidisciplinary research (cell biology, physiology, engineering, bioinformatics, machine learning, artificial intelligence) to support minimally invasive and targeted preventive and predictive medicine capable of limiting age-related functional disorders.

Constraints and risks

The person may move to several different sites within the RESTORE institute (Incere building at the Langlade site and the Faculty of Dental Surgery at Rangueil).