After medical training (MD) in Pediatric Immunology with Professor Alan Fischer's team in Paris, I obtained my PhD, studying the pathophysiology of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome in Dr Vainchenker's Research Unit (Villejuif, France). I then focused my research on the development of humanized NOD/SCID mice model to study normal and pathological human immune system. I was recruited in 2005 as Head of the Immuno-Allergy and Rheumatology Division and researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital. I plan to continue and develop my research projects on humanized NOD/SCID mice model. By using this technology, we plan to study new graft modalities that could induce a better immune reconstitution following cord blood transplantation.
We are also trying to transfer immune disorders from human patients to mice as we did recently in the setting of minimal change nephrotic syndrome. We plan to use this model of nephrotic syndrome in humanized mice to elucidate the mechanism of the disease. In addition, we plan to develop new humanized murine models of immunodeficiencies by transducing human CD34 cells with lentivirus containing specific targeted siRNA. We have also developed a new model of humanized mice with human leukemia, and we are examining immunotherapy technology in this model. All these research projects will be performed in close collaboration with other investigators of the Viral and Immune Disorders and Cancers Research Axis, particularly with Drs. Françoise Le Deist, Michel Duval, Christian Beauséjour, Nikolaus Heveker, and Daniel Sinnett.
An international study led by Montreal researchers finds better ways to improve the chances of survival of children with a rare immune deficiency