Speaker: Dr. Neus Agell, Professor of Cell Biology. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona. Group Leader, IDIBAPS (August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute)

Abstract: Genome duplication, critical for cell survival and identity, requires precise origin activation to ensure accurate DNA replication and chromatin structure maintenance. In some cancer cells, prolonged replication stress does not hinder cell proliferation. We demonstrate that upon recovery, these cancer cells are able to activate new replication origins in distinct domains, causing persistent changes in chromatin accessibility, nuclear morphology, and replication timing. This mechanism not only maintains cell proliferation under stress but may also accelerate tumour heterogeneity.

Host: Dr. Matilde LLeonart. Head of group Head and Neck Cancer: Biomedical Research Cancer Stem cells. Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR)