The PFNT Facility is a coherent set of exploration tools in neurobiology allowing research at the molecular, cellular and integrated levels.
On December 6 and 7, 2018, Neuroschool PhD Days took place. In this edition entitled "Through the looking glass: beyond our reality", second-year neuroscience PhD students were invited to present their work.
It is in this context that the 3 PhD students of the INP took part: Laurie Arnaud, Audrey Jacq and Dominika Pilat.
Vect-Horus announced today the signing of a research collaboration agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. The goal of this collaboration is to use Vect-Horus’ proprietary technology to transport various Janssen monoclonal antibodies to the brain for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. This deal was facilitated by Johnson & Johnson Innovation Limited.
The first conference entitled “Alzheimer’s disease, fears and hopes” was given at the meeting of the management boards of the french Vaincre l’Alzheimer and the german Alzheimer Forschung Initiative foundations that was held on November 16th 2018 at the Novotel Hotel Marseille Vieux Port.
The second conference, in the context of the Conferences Cycle of the Institute of Neurosciences of the University of Barcelona, was entitled “ Membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases are newcomers to the Alzheimer’s field ” ans was held on November 20th at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Barcelona.
The latest work from the Neural Degeneration and Plasticity team, in collaboration with the BBB and neuroinflammation team of Michel Khrestchatisky: "The pro-amyloidogenic effects of Membrane-type 1-Matrix Metalloproteinase involve MMP-2 and BACE-1 activities, and the modulation of APP trafficking" is now published in the FASEB Journal (doi: 10.1096/fj.201801076R). Our data unveil new mechanistic insights supporting the pro-amyloidogenic role of MT1-MMP based on APP processing and trafficking, and reinforces the idea that MT1-MMP may become a new potential therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease.
Géraldine Ferracci, manager of the Surface Plasmon Resonance unit at INP's Plateform Interactome Neuro-Timone (PINT), gave a talk at the 6th Biacore Users' Meeting. During her presentation untitled "Contribution of the SPR in the study of membrane proteins: from their quantification to the optimization of therapeutic peptide vectors", she stressed the role of this major biophysical technique, played in the therapeutic approaches developed within the INP.
Vect-Horus has established a long-term highly efficient collaboration with the Institute of NeuroPhysiopathology INP (UMR7051 CNRS-AMU) directed by Dr. Michel KHRESTCHATISKY, cofounder of the company, and this Partnership signed on November 14, 2018 is a cornerstone in the creation of the LABCOM (Common Research Lab) between the INP and Vect-Horus.
The latest work of the NeuroCyto Team (previously on bioRxiv) is now published in the Journal of Cell Biology. We collaborated with the Roy lab to reveal a new mechanism of slow axonal transport, based on the previous discovery of actin hotspots and trails. Hotspots are static actin clusters that appear and disappear within minutes every 3-4 µm along the axon. They generate the assembly of trails, long actin filaments that polymerize along the axon and collapse within seconds.
On Friday, November 23, the INP welcomes Professor Emeritus Jean-Michel SCHERRMANN (University of Paris Descartes), for a seminar entitled "Why it is difficult to develop CNS drugs: lack of neuropharmacokinetic considerations?”
Developing efficient drugs for treating cerebral disorders remains a true challenge. Reducing the duration and cost of preclinical and clinical trials as well as identifying the wrong candidates, as quickly as possible, are key priorities. Such goals require translational research and strong interdisciplinary interactions.
The latest work of the NeuroCyto Team (previously on bioRxiv) is now published in the Journal of Cell Biology. We collaborated with the Roy lab to reveal a new mechanism of slow axonal transport, based on the previous discovery of actin hotspots and trails. Hotspots are static actin clusters that appear and disappear within minutes every 3-4 µm along the axon.
On Friday, November 23, the INP welcomes Professor Emeritus Jean-Michel SCHERRMANN (University of Paris Descartes), for a seminar entitled "Why it is difficult to develop CNS drugs: lack of neuropharmacokinetic considerations?”
Santiago Rivera represented the INP on the 1st Congress of the 7 CoENs (International Neetwork of Centers of Excellence in Neurodegeneration) held in Montpellier on October 18 and 19, 2018, endorsed by AVIESAN: Bordeaux, Grenoble, Lille, Montpellier, Marseille, Paris and Toulouse. He gave a lecture in the CoEN Pathfinder laureates’ session entitled MT-MMPs at the crossroads of amyloidogenesis and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.
The Emergence project entitled “Tau, from Alzheimer disease to glioblastoma, evolution of a prognostic marker” was selected by the Canceropole PACA to be founded by the GEFLUC (groupement des entreprises françaises dans la lutte contre le cancer). Team 9 has a long-time expertise on Tau and this grant will be used to complete the identification of the kinases responsible for Tau phosphorylation in glioblastoma.
Photo from the GEFLUC
On September 12, over 300 students, teachers, researchers, clinicians and entrepreneurs participated in the launch of NeuroSchool, the school that unifies and harmonizes the teachings of the third year of the bachelor's degree (Neuroscience path), the master's degree and the PhD program in neuroscience. Funded by the National Research Agency and the A*Midex Foundation, NeuroSchool will benefit from a funding of approximately 10 million euros (over 10 years).
Michel Khrestchatisky gave a talk on the ongoing projects of his group and biotechnology partner Vect-Horus, also member of the ECMED consortium, while Grigorios Kyriatzis presented results of his ongoing PhD project.
#EUROTAU 2018 - European scientists involved in Tau research met in Lille to exchange new ideas and hypotheses on physiological and pathological roles of tau proteins (26-27th April 2018). François Devred gave one of the 38 selected talks in which he presented a new reversible oligomerization of tau protein evidenced in INP team 9, which could have a protective physiological role and prevent pathological aggregation of tau in neurodegenerative diseases. Next edition of EuroTau will be in 2020.
Photo © Valérie Buée Scherrer
In the corridor of the Montparnasse-Bienvenüe Station, the CNRS exhibits an amazing fresco of 134 metres long on the most surprising living discoveries of the last 15 years. One of our pictures, featured on the fresco has been selected by the CNRS press office to illustrate a press release entitled "« Étonnant Vivant » : une nouvelle exposition à la station Montparnasse-Bienvenüe"
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