From Vision to Action

«To engage SILAB in socially committed action while confirming its scientific culture, fundamental values and humanism – it is for these reasons that I decided on this creation» Jean PAUFIQUE.

The aim of the SILAB - Jean PAUFIQUE Corporate Foundation is to provide active and constant support for Fundamental and applied Research dedicated to the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of skin pathologies, particularly skin cancer.

Professors Philippe HUMBERT and Christophe BEDANE, opinion leaders in the domain of Dermatological Research, have joined the Governing Body of the Corporate Foundation. They make an essential contribution to the corporate approach based on shared values: a passion for Research and support for young talent.

 

2023 prize-winner: Emilie CHESSEL

Emilie CHESSEL Emilie CHESSEL was named the 16th prize-winner of the SILAB - Jean PAUFIQUE Corporate Foundation.
The project of Emilie CHESSEL is entitled “Study of metabolic and translational adaptations leading to melanoma resistance to immunotherapy”. This work will be carried out in the Mediterranean center of Molecular Medicine (C3M, INSERM U11065 Eq12, Nice University) under the direction of ROCCHI and CEREZO doctors.
The melanoma, at metastatic stage, is one of the cancers with the highest mortality rate. Although immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of many cancers, the majority of patients fail to respond or develop resistance. Adaptations in cellular metabolism play a major role in the intrinsic mechanisms responsible for this resistance. Preliminary studies have demonstrated deregulation of the metabolism of arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, in melanoma cells resistant to immunotherapy. In addition, they identified an increase in the ASS1 enzyme, involved in arginine synthesis. The aim of this project is to understand how increased synthesis of this amino acid contributes to the resistance of melanoma cells to immunotherapy. This will enable us to identify new biomarkers and/or new therapeutic targets in order to offer an alternative to patients with cutaneous melanoma who have reached a therapeutic impasse.

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