Vincent Pasque
@pasquelab.bsky.social
Stem cell and developmental biologist, Professor @ University of Leuven, Belgium. #Pluripotency #Epigenetics
𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐗-𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
Using the loss of function approach, we show that without XIST, extraembryonic cells fail to establish X-chromosome inactivation, providing the first formal proof that XIST is required for X-chromosome inactivation in humans.
Using the loss of function approach, we show that without XIST, extraembryonic cells fail to establish X-chromosome inactivation, providing the first formal proof that XIST is required for X-chromosome inactivation in humans.
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
𝐗𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐗-𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
Using the loss of function approach, we show that without XIST, extraembryonic cells fail to establish X-chromosome inactivation, providing the first formal proof that XIST is required for X-chromosome inactivation in humans.
Using the loss of function approach, we show that without XIST, extraembryonic cells fail to establish X-chromosome inactivation, providing the first formal proof that XIST is required for X-chromosome inactivation in humans.
The differentiation of naive pluripotent stem cells to two key postimplantation human extraembryonic cell types, extraembryonic mesoderm and trophoblast stem cells, triggers X-chromosome inactivation, robustly recapitulating human X-chromosome inactivation in human extraembryonic cells in vitro.
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The differentiation of naive pluripotent stem cells to two key postimplantation human extraembryonic cell types, extraembryonic mesoderm and trophoblast stem cells, triggers X-chromosome inactivation, robustly recapitulating human X-chromosome inactivation in human extraembryonic cells in vitro.
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐨 𝐗-𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬.
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐨 𝐗-𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬.
It is with profound sadness that I have learned of the passing of my beloved PhD supervisor, John Gurdon. We have lost a true giant, an incredible mentor, kind and generous, whose contributions to science will inspire generations. He changed my life, and the lives of so many others.
October 8, 2025 at 8:40 AM
It is with profound sadness that I have learned of the passing of my beloved PhD supervisor, John Gurdon. We have lost a true giant, an incredible mentor, kind and generous, whose contributions to science will inspire generations. He changed my life, and the lives of so many others.
Excited to share our latest News & Views published in Nature! @nature.com
rdcu.be/eI2NJ
Sherif Khodeer and I discuss how stem cell-based embryo models provide evidence that viral DNA sequences that entered the human genome in the past were repurposed to aid early stages of embryonic development.
rdcu.be/eI2NJ
Sherif Khodeer and I discuss how stem cell-based embryo models provide evidence that viral DNA sequences that entered the human genome in the past were repurposed to aid early stages of embryonic development.
October 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Excited to share our latest News & Views published in Nature! @nature.com
rdcu.be/eI2NJ
Sherif Khodeer and I discuss how stem cell-based embryo models provide evidence that viral DNA sequences that entered the human genome in the past were repurposed to aid early stages of embryonic development.
rdcu.be/eI2NJ
Sherif Khodeer and I discuss how stem cell-based embryo models provide evidence that viral DNA sequences that entered the human genome in the past were repurposed to aid early stages of embryonic development.
Excited to share our new paper in Nature Communications @natcomms.nature.com
(www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
We show how cells can sense when individual genes are lost and compensate by upregulating the remaining gene copy.
With Ryan Allsop, Jeffrey Boeren, Beatrice Tan, Joost Gribnau and others.
(www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
We show how cells can sense when individual genes are lost and compensate by upregulating the remaining gene copy.
With Ryan Allsop, Jeffrey Boeren, Beatrice Tan, Joost Gribnau and others.
September 30, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Excited to share our new paper in Nature Communications @natcomms.nature.com
(www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
We show how cells can sense when individual genes are lost and compensate by upregulating the remaining gene copy.
With Ryan Allsop, Jeffrey Boeren, Beatrice Tan, Joost Gribnau and others.
(www.nature.com/articles/s41...)
We show how cells can sense when individual genes are lost and compensate by upregulating the remaining gene copy.
With Ryan Allsop, Jeffrey Boeren, Beatrice Tan, Joost Gribnau and others.
Exciting postdoc position to study X-chromosome inactivation using stem cell-based embryos models, advanced imaging and single-cell omics at the Pasque lab, University of Leuven – KU Leuven, Belgium. International team, amazing collaborators. Full details: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
September 3, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Exciting postdoc position to study X-chromosome inactivation using stem cell-based embryos models, advanced imaging and single-cell omics at the Pasque lab, University of Leuven – KU Leuven, Belgium. International team, amazing collaborators. Full details: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
We are hiring a Lab Technician! Join our lab at the University of Leuven - KU Leuven, working on stem cell biology and epigenetics. Perform key molecular/cell biology techniques and manage lab operations. Full/part-time contract. Apply by Sept 30!
More info: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
More info: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
September 3, 2025 at 7:55 AM
We are hiring a Lab Technician! Join our lab at the University of Leuven - KU Leuven, working on stem cell biology and epigenetics. Perform key molecular/cell biology techniques and manage lab operations. Full/part-time contract. Apply by Sept 30!
More info: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
More info: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
Exciting Research Professorship Position in Stem Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Leuven. Amazing research ecosystem, great colleagues, high quality of life, tenure track. For those interested in joining us, please see below:
www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
July 7, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Exciting Research Professorship Position in Stem Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Leuven. Amazing research ecosystem, great colleagues, high quality of life, tenure track. For those interested in joining us, please see below:
www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...
We are delighted to share our new preprint “X-chromosome upregulation operates on a gene-by-gene basis at RNA and protein levels”.
biorxiv.org/content/earl...
biorxiv.org/content/earl...
June 24, 2025 at 8:52 AM
We are delighted to share our new preprint “X-chromosome upregulation operates on a gene-by-gene basis at RNA and protein levels”.
biorxiv.org/content/earl...
biorxiv.org/content/earl...
We are excited to host Dr. Maxim Greenberg and Dr. Courtney Hanna this week to kickoff the Leuven Epigenetics Club!
April 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
We are excited to host Dr. Maxim Greenberg and Dr. Courtney Hanna this week to kickoff the Leuven Epigenetics Club!
Excited to share that I have been recognized as a 2025 ISSCR Public Service Award Honoree! Read more about the award and my fellow honorees.
www.isscr.org/isscr-news/i...
www.isscr.org/isscr-news/i...
March 19, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Excited to share that I have been recognized as a 2025 ISSCR Public Service Award Honoree! Read more about the award and my fellow honorees.
www.isscr.org/isscr-news/i...
www.isscr.org/isscr-news/i...
Excited to share our recent review on extraembryonic mesoderm development, just published in Development!
"Extra embryonic mesoderm during development and in in vitro models."
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
"Extra embryonic mesoderm during development and in in vitro models."
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
March 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Excited to share our recent review on extraembryonic mesoderm development, just published in Development!
"Extra embryonic mesoderm during development and in in vitro models."
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
"Extra embryonic mesoderm during development and in in vitro models."
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
Happy 600th birthday to the University of Leuven!
February 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Happy 600th birthday to the University of Leuven!
“I have always been motivated by other successful women, they challenge and inspire me. I hope one day to be able to inspire other women too. Because there is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish” - Chloé Lorent.
February 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
“I have always been motivated by other successful women, they challenge and inspire me. I hope one day to be able to inspire other women too. Because there is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish” - Chloé Lorent.
“Science is everyone’s game - driven by diverse minds, not gender. By breaking barriers and embracing equality, we create a future where talent and curiosity lead the way.” - Thi Xuan Ai Pham.
Thi Xuan Ai Pham is a PhD student in our lab working on human naive pluripotent stem cells.
Thi Xuan Ai Pham is a PhD student in our lab working on human naive pluripotent stem cells.
February 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
“Science is everyone’s game - driven by diverse minds, not gender. By breaking barriers and embracing equality, we create a future where talent and curiosity lead the way.” - Thi Xuan Ai Pham.
Thi Xuan Ai Pham is a PhD student in our lab working on human naive pluripotent stem cells.
Thi Xuan Ai Pham is a PhD student in our lab working on human naive pluripotent stem cells.
“My passion for research that may impact the health of our population, combined with my role as a mother, is my daily motivation to move from the lab to the minds of our young women and girls, empowering them to shape their future”. - Dr. Marim Solis.
February 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
“My passion for research that may impact the health of our population, combined with my role as a mother, is my daily motivation to move from the lab to the minds of our young women and girls, empowering them to shape their future”. - Dr. Marim Solis.
The Pasque lab wishes you and your loved ones a happy holiday season and a wonderful end of year! We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead!
December 20, 2024 at 12:15 PM
The Pasque lab wishes you and your loved ones a happy holiday season and a wonderful end of year! We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead!
It was a fantastic edition of the 8th Meeting of the Belgian Society for Stem Cell Research in Brussels with stellar speakers including Susana de Sousa Lopes, Jacob Hanna, Florian Merkle, Anchel de Jaime-Soguero and many more. Thank you to all participants. #BeSSCR #StemCells
November 29, 2024 at 3:55 PM
It was a fantastic edition of the 8th Meeting of the Belgian Society for Stem Cell Research in Brussels with stellar speakers including Susana de Sousa Lopes, Jacob Hanna, Florian Merkle, Anchel de Jaime-Soguero and many more. Thank you to all participants. #BeSSCR #StemCells
Totipotency is the ability of a cell to give rise to all cell types, both embryonic & extraembryonic. But how do we test this in human cells? Check out Box 2: Experimental Criteria to Evaluate Human Totipotency in our recent review: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39366361/
November 25, 2024 at 11:57 PM
Totipotency is the ability of a cell to give rise to all cell types, both embryonic & extraembryonic. But how do we test this in human cells? Check out Box 2: Experimental Criteria to Evaluate Human Totipotency in our recent review: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39366361/