A functional vascular network is a prerequisite for normal embryonic development, tissue repair and engineering. Deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms that initiate and regulate blood vessel growth and regression in the retina in homeostatic conditions is key to understand vascular retinopathies. We use unbiased high-throughput screening methods of Single cell RNAseq, combined with microscopy imaging and biochemical analysis to identify angiocrine factors regulating different aspects of vessel remodeling in the eye. We found recently that cellular senescence can occur from the earliest stages of embryonic development and influence endothelial cell’s function. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of developmental senescence and the identification of new molecular signatures regulating endothelial cell plasticity and specification is of great interest in order to manipulate theses pathways to counteract retinopathy.

Dr. Oubaha is a molecular and cellular biologist with specific training and expertise in vascular biology. Her work led to significant findings on the role of cellular senescence in vascular remodeling in retinopathies. She is a professor at Université du Québec à Montréal She recently was awarded the Canada Research chair in senescence and vascular development from the Canadian Institutes of Health research.