Dr. Asselin seeks to understand the cellular and molecular signalling mechanisms that control the fate of cells in the endometrium (ie survival vs. cell death). Backed by a team of 13 people, his group will study normal physiology (pregnancy, embryo implantation) and pathologies of the reproductive tract (gyneacological endometrial and ovarian cancers). Very few studies concerning the regulation of apoptosis in the uterus have been published to date. Dr. Asselin and his team also developed patented molecules for targeting specific hormone-dependent cancers. The proposed program will elucidate new pathways and will propose innovative strategies for gene therapy of chemoresistant and metastatic cancers and treatment of female infertility.