Description du sujet de thèse

Vital immune cells found throughout the body, macrophages contribute to the health and function of our tissues. Their absence leads to significant biological changes, underscoring their importance. Macrophages perform diverse roles in different organs—from promoting neuron growth in the brain to regulating bone development. They are also involved in various pathologies such as cancer. As such, they can be considered functional regulators of many key processes in the body.

Despite their importance, we know relatively little about how these biological regulators are themselves regulated. The concept of the “macrophage niche” suggests that a specific local environment—called a “niche”—governs the development, instruction, and behavior of these immune cells. Supporting cells known as “stromal” cells, which are recognized as niches for immune cells in lymphoid organs, likely play a similar role in supporting macrophages across various tissues.
This research project aims to explore the complex relationships between immune cells and their environments, providing insights into the interactions that maintain tissue harmony and stability, as well as into potential treatments for diseases involving macrophage dysfunction (ranging from infectious diseases to cancer).
The project has two main objectives:
To build a comprehensive atlas detailing the distribution of macrophage niches across various tissues using genetically modified and unpublished mouse models.
To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the reciprocal communication between niche cells and macrophages.
The selected candidate will participate in this project, funded by an ANR Chair of Excellence.

Contexte de travail

The CIML (Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy) is an academic research center dedicated to the study of the immune system. It comprises 200 members and benefits from a unique set of cross-disciplinary technological platforms developed over the years and continuously enriched with cutting-edge technologies. These include animal models (i.e., genetically modified mouse models), advanced imaging, (single-cell) genomics, cytometry, histology, and bioinformatics.
The selected candidate will work directly under the supervision of Dr. Bajénoff, within the "Stromal Cell Immunobiology" team, established at CIML in 2010 and recipient of an ERC Consolidator Grant in 2015 and an ANR Chair of Excellence in 2024.

Contraintes et risques

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Informations complémentaires

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