Dr. Samer Hussein is a researcher at the CHU Research Centre of Quebec – Laval University, and is part of the St-Patrick group of research in fundamental oncology. He is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine, Laval University.

His research aims to understand the molecular mechanisms that establish and regulate pluripotent cell states, particularly the role of long non-coding RNAs in gene networks, as well as the transcriptional events responsible for cancer initiation and progression.

Defining gene networks and their interactions that govern pluripotent states

Pluripotency is defined as the ability of a cell to generate all the cell types found in an organism. The three transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog represent the central pillars of the gene regulatory network associated with the maintenance of a pluripotent state. Through cellular models of pluripotency and reprogramming, and the use of high-throughput technologies (proteomics, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq), this project aims to understand how interactions between transcription factors of pluripotency and chromatin regulators determine cell fate and cell transition to specific lineages in embryonic development, as well as cancer development.

Defining the role of certain long non-coding RNAs in cell identity

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) constitute an entire class of RNA, characterized by the fact that they do not encode any known protein and that they are composed of at least 200 base pairs. LncRNAs are implicated in gene regulation and maintenance of cellular identity, but their mechanism of action involved in the establishment of pluripotency remains unknown. The objective of this project is to understand the role of lncRNAs in the regulation of pluripotent states and the reprogramming of embryonic stem cells.

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21 entries « ‹ 1 of 5 › »

Kim KH, Kim YH, Son JE, Lee JH, Kim S, Choe MS, Moon JH, Zhong J, Fu K, Lenglin F, Yoo JA, Bilan PJ, Klip A, Nagy A, Kim JR, Park JG, Hussein SM, Doh KO, Hui CC, Sung HK

Intermittent fasting promotes adipose thermogenesis and metabolic homeostasis via VEGF-mediated alternative activation of macrophage.

Journal Article

Cell Res, 27 (11), pp. 1309-1326, 2017, ISSN: 1001-0602.

Abstract | Links:

Kim KH, Rosen A, Hussein SM, Puviindran V, Korogyi AS, Chiarello C, Nagy A, Hui CC, Backx PH

Irx3 is required for postnatal maturation of the mouse ventricular conduction system.

Journal Article

Sci Rep, 6 , pp. 19197, 2016, ISSN: 2045-2322.

Abstract | Links:

Tonge PD, Corso AJ, Monetti C, Hussein SM, Puri MC, Michael IP, Li M, Lee DS, Mar JC, Cloonan N, Wood DL, Gauthier ME, Korn O, Clancy JL, Preiss T, Grimmond SM, Shin JY, Seo JS, Wells CA, Rogers IM, Nagy A

Corrigendum: Divergent reprogramming routes lead to alternative stem-cell states.

Journal Article

Nature, 523 (7562), pp. 626, 2015, ISSN: 0028-0836.

| Links:

Hussein SM, Puri MC, Tonge PD, Benevento M, Corso AJ, Clancy JL, Mosbergen R, Li M, Lee DS, Cloonan N, Wood DL, Munoz J, Middleton R, Korn O, Patel HR, White CA, Shin JY, Gauthier ME, Cao KA, Kim JI, Mar JC, Shakiba N, Ritchie W, Rasko JE, Grimmond SM, Zandstra PW, Wells CA, Preiss T, Seo JS, Heck AJ, Rogers IM, Nagy A

Corrigendum: Genome-wide characterization of the routes to pluripotency.

Journal Article

Nature, 523 (7562), pp. 626, 2015, ISSN: 0028-0836.

| Links:

Shakiba N, White CA, Lipsitz YY, Yachie-Kinoshita A, Tonge PD, Hussein SM, Puri MC, Elbaz J, Morrissey-Scoot J, Li M, Munoz J, Benevento M, Rogers IM, Hanna JH, Heck AJ, Wollscheid B, Nagy A, Zandstra PW

CD24 tracks divergent pluripotent states in mouse and human cells.

Journal Article

Nat Commun, 6 , pp. 7329, 2015, ISSN: 2041-1723.

Abstract | Links:

21 entries « ‹ 1 of 5 › »

Active projects

  • Centre de recherche sur le cancer, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Centres de recherche reconnus, from 1996-05-01 to 2023-04-30
  • Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Subvention, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centres de recherche affiliés, from 2017-01-01 to 2099-12-31
  • Connecting the pluripotency gene network to development and disease, Partenariat, Fondation Canadienne pour l'innovation (La), Fonds des leaders John-R.-Evans (FLJR), from 2017-08-01 to 2018-12-31
  • Les réseaux d’interactions moléculaires dans les états de pluripotence différents, Subvention, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé, Chercheur-boursier Juniors 1 et 2, Seniors, from 2017-07-01 to 2021-06-30
  • Les réseaux d’interactions moléculaires dans les états de pluripotence différents, Subvention, Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé, Établissement de jeunes chercheurs - Juniors 1, from 2017-07-01 to 2020-06-30
  • The role of long non-coding RNAs in defining pluripotent stem cell states, Subvention, Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Subvention Projet, from 2017-04-01 to 2022-03-31
  • Transcription factor stoichiometry defines distinct pluripotent states, Subvention, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie Canada, Subventions à la découverte SD (individuelles et d'équipe), from 2016-04-01 to 2021-03-31

Recently finished projects

  • (FRSQ 74967) The role of pluripotency transcription factor interactions in development and cancer, Subvention, Fondation du CHU de Québec, from 2016-06-01 to 2017-05-30
  • Chercheurs bousiers-Complément de salaire, Subvention, Université Laval - budget de fonctionnement, Compléments de salaire des professeurs sous octroi, from 2016-05-01 to 2017-04-30
  • Programme de soutien aux nouveaux chercheurs de la Faculté de médecine, Subvention, Université Laval - démarrage nouveau chercheur, Soutien facultaire aux jeunes chercheurs de la Faculté de médecine, from 2016-07-01 to 2018-06-30
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery