STAGE ISSS: Magali Richard

Join us for the next instalment of the STAGE International Speaker Seminar Series (ISSS) with

Magali Richard

Research Associate, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and Université Grenoble Alpes

Free Hybrid (In-person/Online) Event | Registration Optional

Talk Title:

Computational Approaches to Characterize Cellular and Spatial Heterogeneity in Cancer

Abstract:

Cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, with each tumor evolving as a multicellular, self-organized system. Tumors comprise diverse cell types of distinct origins, interacting dynamically to shape a complex ecosystem. This cellular heterogeneity is a major driver of cancer progression, yet remains challenging to observe, quantify, and interpret. Our limited ability to accurately estimate it continues to hamper a comprehensive understanding of oncogenesis. At the interface of bioinformatics, biostatistics, and oncology, our work develops computational strategies to analyze high-dimensional, multimodal molecular data, including single-cell and spatial transcriptomic datasets. These tools aim to disentangle tumor complexity and reveal its functional implications.

In this talk, I will present approaches we have designed to characterize tumor heterogeneity. I will illustrate them with two examples: (i) the construction of single-cell atlases to describe cellular heterogeneity in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and (ii) the analysis of spatial organization to predict how heterogeneity shapes tumor evolution. Finally, I will highlight our efforts to foster collaborative benchmarking and evaluation of computational algorithms through data challenge frameworks. By enabling transparent comparison of methods, such initiatives foster reproducibility and accelerate the translation of methodological research into biological discovery.

Speaker Profile:

Magali Richard is a bioinformatician. Trained in molecular biology and genetics, she specialized in computational biology. A researcher at CNRS since 2018, she studies tumor heterogeneity by combining experimental and computational approaches. Her work focuses both on developing new methods and advancing cancer research. She also promotes collaborative science by organizing data challenges.

Sponsors:

CANSSI Ontario STAGE (STAGE) is a training program in genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics housed at the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health. It operates with financial and in-kind support from CANSSI Ontario, an extra-departmental unit in the Faculty of Arts & Science at U of T.

STAGE would like to thank our generous seminar sponsors!
For a complete list of sponsors, please see here.

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