Glenda Comai

Glenda Comai is a Permanent Researcher (CRCN CNRS) at the Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, CNRS UMR 3738, Institut Pasteur, Paris, where she has worked since 2016 in Prof. Shahragim Tajbakhsh's laboratory. She serves on the Advisory Board of the French Society of Developmental Biology (SFBD) since 2019 and recently obtained her HDR (Habilitation à diriger des Recherches) from Université Paris Saclay in 2024.

Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying tissue patterning during development, with special emphasis on craniofacial muscles. Using 3D-imaging, mouse genetics, and single cell/single nuclear omics approaches, she investigates how heterogeneity at the level of stem cells and myofibers is established and how this impacts muscular genetic disorders. Her work reveals significant differences between extraocular muscle stem cells and those from limb muscles, particularly in their regenerative capacity and molecular signatures.

Analysis of her recent publications shows a strong trend toward understanding the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of muscle stem cell identity, particularly how anatomical location influences stem cell behavior. Her research spans developmental biology, stem cell biology, and muscle physiology, with particular emphasis on craniofacial development and muscle regeneration mechanisms.

• AFM PRC Grant (2024-2026)
• ANR JCJC Grant (2021-2024)
• AFM Trampolin Grant (2020-2021)

As Principal Investigator, Dr. Comai leads two major research projects: AFM-Trampolin: Cellular and genetic basis for robustness of cranial myogenic populations (ENCRYPT) and ANR-JCJC: Mechanisms defining functional heterogeneity of anatomically distinct myogenic populations (MUSE). Her laboratory employs advanced techniques including bioimage analysis, confocal microscopy, stem cell culture, and various molecular biology methods to investigate muscle development and regeneration.