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Research groups
Lucie Pepino
Post-doctoral Researcher
research interests
Histone-mutant diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is a highly aggressive paediatric brain tumour with very limited treatment options and poor prognosis. These tumours are characterised by their ability to evade immune surveillance, which significantly limits the effectiveness of current immunotherapies. Understanding how DMG interacts with and shapes the immune system is therefore critical to developing more effective treatments.
My research in the Pathania lab focuses on defining how tumour cells establish and regulate distinct immune environments within the brain. I investigate how immune responses are initiated and coordinated, with particular attention to central nervous system border regions that may control immune cell entry and communication. By uncovering the mechanisms of tumour–immune interaction, my work aims to identify actionable therapeutic strategies to enhance anti-tumour immunity and improve patient outcomes.
background
I completed my BSc in Biotechnology and Human Biology, followed by my MSc and PhD in Neuroscience at Aix-Marseille University (France). During my PhD in Aziz Moqrich’s lab (advised by Ana Reynders), I investigated sex-linked differences in an inflammatory pain model and identified a sex-specific mechanism involving neutrophil recruitment to the spinal meninges. This work sparked my interest in how central nervous system border niches regulate immune responses in health and disease.