Therapeutics

Description and Mission

Building on our fundamental and translational research, our objectives are:

1. Establish a preclinical drug screening platform
   Within the Inflammation Research Center, we will develop a preclinical platform for drug screening using organoids. It will be dedicated to inflammatory and fibrosing diseases, building on our partners’ expertise in organoid models and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
2. Design and conduct clinical trials
   Under the leadership of Prof. Gabriel Steg, a recognized expert in atherothrombosis, we will develop early clinical trials (Phase 1) and Phase 2–3 trials with innovative designs. A dedicated working group will identify and support the most promising trials proposed by FHU partners, facilitating their structuring and funding applications.
3. Develop targeted therapeutics
   We will continue developing treatments targeting the cells and pathways involved in fibrosis. CAR-T cells, in collaboration with Drs J. Larghero and J.D. Bouaziz (Saint-Louis Hospital), represent a promising avenue. Identifying common targets across multiple organs and diseases, as outlined in WP2, will make it possible to design innovative CAR-T approaches for diseases with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options.

In parallel, non-pharmacological therapies will be integrated into this WP. For example, we will study the use of virtual reality to assist surgical and non-surgical procedures, notably percutaneous therapies in valvular diseases. The growing number of patients concerned calls for optimizing these techniques to prevent tissue remodeling, fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction, while reducing operative complications.

By bringing together the strengths of our partners, we aim to develop new therapeutic regimens to significantly improve the management of patients with remodeling, inflammation, and fibrosis. This collaborative work will strengthen scientific research and attract significant funding.