[FG] Gros Stephanie

Research Focus

Oncology & Hematology

The research of my group lies at the interface of developmental biology, translational medicine, and pediatric surgery, with a strong focus on systems approaches to child health and disease. Our research aims to translate molecular understanding of cell differentiation processes into preclinical and clinical applications, particularly in pediatric tumors and congenital malformations. My molecular research as a clinician-scientist is fundamentally shaped by the questions arising from the patients` needs.

Key Research Areas

Congenital malformations are structural or functional anomalies that occur before birth and remain a leading cause of infant mortality. According to the WHO, around 3.2 million babies are born each year with a congenital anomaly, and about 300,000 die within the first four weeks. In up to 70% of cases, the exact cause remains unknown. It is hypothesized that disrupted embryonic and fetal development is multifactorial, particularly affecting differentiation during the first trimester. One of the diseases resulting from disrupted developmental differentiation is neuroblastom.

Surgical oncology, and neuroblastoma in particular, is the main focus of our research. Pediatric tumor disease is still life threatening and can already occur in neonates. There is a need for identifying underlying mechanisms of tumor development and tumor cell progression migration that can lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In this context, we use systems approaches by employing patient derived culture and organoid models to study neuroblastoma development and tumor dynamics, tumor cell migration, therapy response, and immune interactions. We develop test platforms and novel cell therapies approaches for pediatric solid tumors, and contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives in engineering translational medicine.

Cellular differentiation is also fundamental to other congenital malformations inlcuding Hirschsprung’s disease. Here, we investigate molecular drivers using 3D organoid and tissue models, integrating multi-omics to study epithelial differentiation, water transport, and long-term outcomes after surgery. We are exploring how prenatal environmental exposures impact fetal development and birth outcomes through integrative, multi-omic approaches, using both cellular models and real-world data.

On the clinical side, we aim to develop innovative surgical tools, such as 3D reconstruction techniques and image-based risk assessment models, to enhance surgical planning for rare and complex pediatric solid tumors.