Guillaume Paulissen wins Best Poster Prize at the 9th Annual Meeting of the Belgian Society for Stem Cell Research (BeSSCR) in Brussels

As part of his master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology at the UNamur, Guillaume Paulissen joined the team of Prof. Patsy Renard (NARILIS, URBC) to carry out an experimental research project in the field of regenerative cardiology. Myocardial infarction leads to the irreversible loss of cardiomyocyte and excessive fibrotic remodelling. Since there is a very limited regenerative capacity, direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes represents a promising strategy to reverse cardiac fibrosis and improve function.

Under the supervision of postdoctoral researcher Damien Detraux, Guillaume conducted an in vitro study in which cardiac fibroblasts were first activated into a myofibroblast-like state and then transdifferentiated into cardiomyocytes, without going back to a pluripotent stem cell state. Given the crucial role of mitochondria in cardiomyocyte development and lineage conversion, the project specifically examined changes in mitochondrial morphology during the reprogramming process. The initial results suggest that mitochondria may constitute a critical bottleneck in efficient cardiac reprogramming. Ultimately, this work will support the development of improved in vitro models for cardiac repair.

On November 28, 2025, Guillaume had the opportunity to present the findings of his Master thesis at the Annual Meeting of the Belgian Society for Stem Cell Research (BeSSCR) in Brussels. His poster entitled “Dissection and modulation of mitochondrial pathways during activation and transdifferentiation of cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes” was awarded a Best Poster Prize!

Congratulations to Guillaume on this well-deserved recognition!