Teacher / Researcher
My research aims to characterize the neurotoxicity of early exposure to environmental chemical pollutants on brain development, using in vivo (rat, mouse) and/or in silico (Adverse Outcome Pathway) approaches. Current studies investigate the short- and long-term cerebral and behavioural effects of exposure to environmental contaminants such as HBCDD, a brominated flame retardant of high concern, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, or Ultrafine Atmospheric Particles such as diesel exhaust particles. The shift in experimental approaches towards alternatives to animal testing means that the current work aims to develop new formal approaches applied to the characterisation of neurotoxic risk, in partnership with LORIA (lOrrain Laboratory for Research in Computer Science and Automation) in Nancy. The projects being developed also draw on a network of national (IRSET, INERIS, …) and international (LIH, University of Montreal, …) collaborations.
My research skills allow me to contribute to expert assessments concerning the evaluation of health risks associated with such exposures for national (ANSES) and international (EFSA, OECD) agencies. I was recently elected president of the International Neurotoxicology Association and am in charge for organising the congress, which will take place in France in September 2027. Finally, I have held numerous positions at university level (Head of the NBA Teaching Department, member of the FST Council, member of the CNU 69) and was in charge of the Faculty of Science’s animal facility until this year. I also established the University Certificate in Animal Experimentation: Applications of Procedures on Rodents, and am currently in charge of the Applied Neurophysiology speciality in the second year of the Master’s degree in Life Sciences. I am also responsible for teaching applied statistics in the second and third years of the Bachelor’s degree in Biology.
As a pharmacist, I have had a varied career, having worked in the Research and Development department of a pharmaceutical company (DUPHAR) before strating a research training programme which enabled me to complete my PhD in 1994 and my HDR in 2011. I also hold a University Institute Diploma (DIU) in Statistical Methodologies obtained in 1999. The opportunity I was given to take up a position of University Hospital Assistant enabled me to gain experience in clinical research before being appointed to a permanent position of Associate Professor (CNU 69) in 1999.
