PROJECT
SUPERVISORS

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Project Supervisor

Diana Passaro

Background

I trained as a biotechnologist and earned my PhD in hemato-oncology at the Curie Institute in Paris, investigating leukemic stem cell regulation. I then completed postdoctoral research at the Francis Crick Institute in London, focusing on the role of the bone marrow niche in leukemia. In 2019, I returned to France to establish my independent laboratory at the Cochin Institute (INSERM) in Paris, where I lead an international and interdisciplinary team and have a strong commitment to mentoring young scientists in a supportive and collaborative environment.

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My research applies mouse models, organ-on-chip systems, and multi-omic approaches to cancer biology, vascular biology, and microenvironmental studies, aiming to uncover how blood vessels and stromal cells drive leukemia progression and modulate therapeutic outcomes.

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Research

My laboratory investigates how the bone marrow microenvironment shapes blood cancers, with a particular focus on acute leukemias. We study how endothelial cells and other stromal components are remodeled during disease progression, acquiring features that promote leukemia growth and therapy resistance.

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By using state-of-the-art mouse models, organoids and microfluidic systems that mimic human bone marrow, we explore vascular plasticity and its role in leukemia biology. Our goal is to identify mechanisms that can be targeted with drugs or antibodies to improve patient outcomes. We work closely with clinicians and international collaborators, and our lab fosters an interactive and supportive atmosphere where students and fellows develop strong skills in cancer and vascular biology, OMICs, and bioengineering.

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Publications

Duperray-Susini A, Guilbert T, Fodor J, Lesieur J, Sandhow L, Bourdoncle P, Passaro D (2025). Intravital longitudinal imaging of vascular dynamics in the calvarial bone marrow. J Vis Exp, 218: e67332.
https://doi.org/10.3791/67332

Passaro D, Garcia-Albornoz M, Diana G, Chakravarty P, Ariza-McNaughton L, Batsivari A, Borràs-Eroles C, Abarrategi A, Waclawiczek A, Ombrato L, Malanchi I, Gribben J, Bonnet D (2021). Integrated OMICs unveil the bone-marrow microenvironment in human leukemia. Cell Rep, 35(6): 109119.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109119

Gomes AL, Gribben J, Siow B*, Passaro D*, Bonnet D* (2021). Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging quantification of leukemia-induced changes in bone marrow vascular function. Haematologica, 106(8): 2281–2286.
https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2020.277269

Passaro D, Di Tullio A, Abarrategi A, Rouault-Pierre K, Foster K, Ariza-McNaughton L, Montaner B, Chakravarty P, Bhaw L, Diana G, Lassailly F, Gribben J, Bonnet D (2017). Increased vascular permeability in the bone marrow microenvironment contributes to disease progression and drug response in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Cell, 32(3): 324–341.e6.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2017.08.001

Passaro D, Irigoyen M, Catherinet C, Gachet S, Da Costa De Jesus C, Lasgi C, Tran Quang C, Ghysdael J (2015). CXCR4 is required for leukemia-initiating cell activity in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Cell, 27(6): 769–779.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2015.05.003XXX