CV Science

Jean Christophe Poncer PhD, Research Director, Neuroscience

Course and current status

Current position

Inserm Research Director

Group leader, Institut du Fer à Moulin, UMR-S 839, Inserm, UPMC

 

Previous positions

2003-2007   Inserm Research Associate, UMR-739 (Dr. Richard Miles), Inserm, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris

1999-2003   Inserm Research Associate, UMR-8118 (Dr. Alain Marty), CNRS, Paris-Descartes University, Paris

1997-1999   Postdoctoral fellow, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (Dr. Roberto Malinow), New York, USA

1994-1996   Graduate student, Brain Research Institute (Pr. Beat Gähwiler), University of Zurich, Switzerland

1992-1997   Graduate student, Lab. Neurobiologie Cellulaire (Dr. henri Korn), Institut Pasteur, Paris

1991            Undergraduate, Lab. Neurobiologie (Pr. Philippe Ascher), Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris

 

Education

 

2006   Habilitation (HDR), Pierre & Marie Curie University, Paris                                                    

1997   Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Pierre & Marie Curie University, Paris                                                      

1992   Master in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Claude Bernard Univ. & Ecole Normale Supérieure, Lyon

1989   B.Sc. in Life and Earth Sciences (major), Claude Bernard University, Lyon

1987     Baccalaureate (Mathematics and Physics), Lycée Vauvenargues, Aix-en-Provence

 

Honors and Awards

2014   Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale research grant (Equipe FRM)

2013   Human Frontier Science Program research grant

2008   Agence Nationale de la Recherche research grant

2008   Biomedical and health research grant, City of Paris

2006   Inserm Avenir program grant

2003   Electricité de France research grant

2002   Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, Young team support grant

2000   CNRS, Young team support grant

1997   Human Frontier Science Program long term fellowship

1994   European Commission, Marie Curie fellowship

1992   Ministry of Research and Space doctoral fellowship

 

Scientific boards and community

2012-          Review Editor, Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience

2008-          Scientific board, PhD program ‘Brain, Cognition & Behavior’. Pierre & Marie Curie Univ.

2003-2007   Editorial board of the Lettre des Neurosciences, a publication of the Société des Neurosciences

1999-2004   Bureau des Jeunes Chercheurs (Société des Neurosciences)

 

Learned Societies

1998-          Society for Neuroscience (USA)

1992-          Société des Neurosciences (France)

 

Teaching

2007-2011     Master in Biology, Lecture on Synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Cachan

2004-present  Master in Integrative Biology & Physiology, Neuroscience. Lectures on Synaptic and Cellular Plasticity. Pierre & Marie Curie University, Paris

2000-2002      Master in Medical and Biological Sciences. Lecture on Physiological and genetic approaches to epilepsy. Pierre & Marie Curie University, Paris

1999-2000      Master in Neuropharmacology. Lecture on Synaptic plasticity, Ecole Normale Supérieure / Pierre & Marie Curie University, Paris

Scientific summary

Cortical GABAergic interneurons play a critical role in shaping the activity of neuronal ensembles. In particular, in the hippocampus, GABA signaling is involved in the maintenance of rhythmic population activities associated with various behavioral states and cognitive tasks.

However, even a partial reduction in GABAergic transmission leads to an anomalous synchronization of neuronal activity and the emergence of epileptiform discharges.

Our objective is to identify the alterations of GABAergic networks responsible for the initiation and maintenance of epileptiform activities in the hippocampal network. Specifically, we combine cellular electrophysiology and molecular imaging techniques to examine:

 - the functional impact of human mutations affecting GABA signaling and associated with idiopathic generalized epileptic syndromes,

 - the long term changes in hippocampal GABAergic circuits initiated by a period of epileptiform activity,

 - the perturbations of chloride homeostasis induced in several pathological conditions, and their long term effects on synaptic transmission in cortical networks,

 - the emergence and the functional consequences of the transient GABAergic phenotype of newborn dentate gyrus granule cells induced upon seizures.

Our work aims at better understanting the consequences of seizures and identify putative targets for novel therapeutical approaches.