During the last 6 years, Marco Giovanni's team has developed several genetically modified mouse models with the aim of studying tumourigenesis associated with inactivation of tumour suppressor genes.

The various models currently being developed in the team can be grouped into 4 broad themes: a model for the progression of meningeal and Schwann cell tumourigenesis associated with disruption of the NF2, NF1, P53, DAL1, SCHIP2 and P16 genes; analysis of the role of inactivation of the tumour suppressor gene APC in the genesis of primitive neuroepithelial tumours of the CNS and desmoid tumours; and the establishment of animal models for chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine by disrupting the CARD15 gene.

Jessica Zucman-Rossi's team’s research focuses on identifying and characterising genetic alterations in hepatic tumours. The aim of our research is firstly to identify and characterise new mechanisms of tumourigenesis and genetic predisposition to human hepatic tumours, and secondly to look for new diagnostic and prognostic markers of hepatic tumours, in particular predictive markers for malignant transformation.

They are essentially based on studying genetic alterations known as “structural alterations”, such as point mutations, studying the transcriptome, and looking for quantitative chromosomal alteration. We study both malignant and benign primary tumours of the liver in this context.