Education
2001: PhD in molecular and cellular biology. Paris XI University, France. Host laboratory: INSERM U370, Faculty of Medicine Necker-Enfants malades. Paris V University, France.
2006: Diploma for research direction (HDR). Paris V University, France.
2007: Diploma for animal experimentation, level 1. Veterinary school, Lyon, France.
Work Experience
Since 2024 : Team leader, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), Université- Côte d'Azur, CNRS UMR-7275, INSERM U1323, Valbonne, Sophia-Antipolis, France.
2011-2023: Senior Research Associate (CR1-permanent position, INSERM). Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), CNRS UMR-7275, Valbonne, Sophia-Antipolis, France.
2009-2010: Team leader. The Italian Institute of technology, neuroscience and brain technologies department, Genoa, Italy.
2005-2008: INSERM young investigator contract (3-5 years). INSERM U807, Paris V University, Paris, France.
Teaching activities
2012-2013: Bachelor courses of pharmacology, University Côte d’Azur, France.
2009-2010: PhD Students XXV Cycle Courses «Life and Humanoid technologies », Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy.
2005-2011: Master 1 and of Master 2 degrees, Paris-XI University, Paris-V University, University of pharmacy-Chateney Malabry, and University of medicine-Krémlin Bicêtre.
2007-2008: molecular biology/biochemistry & cellular biology (PCEM1 & 2), Paris V University.
Mentoring experience
Committee of the PhD Ministry fellowship (ED85, 2019); PhD committee (3 as principal reviewer: Fez University, Morocco; Caen Normandie University; Aix-Marseille University and Moncton University, Canada). Reviewing committee Polytechnic school, option “genie biology” (GB2), Sophia Antipolis. HDR committee, University Paris VI and Université Côte d'Azur. Master 1 et of Master 2 committes, University Côte d’Azur.
Nominated reviewer by INSERM for Research associate/chaire d’excellence n°66 MCF-1704, Lille University.
Ad hoc reviewer
Honors
Since 2022: Nominated deputy president of the scientific advisory board member of “Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer”
2021: Member of DESP INSERM
2021: Winner of NanoString Gene Expression Panel Grant Program
2020-2023: Scientific excellence prize PEDR from INSERM
2015: Nominated Mentor at INSERM.
2006: Poster Award of the European Calcium Society (ECS).
Scientific board
2022-2026: Member of the INSERM CSS4
Since 2019: International scientific advisory board member of “Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer”, Alzheimer Nederland" and "Alzheimer Forschung"
Since 2019: Member of "Comité Institutionnel d'Éthique Pour l'Animal de Laboratoire-institutional ethic comity for animal experimentation : CIEPAL-AZUR".
Associate Editor of Journal of Alzheimer Disease (2017) & Cells Journal (since 2019), invited review (IJMS & Autophagy journals), and Guest Editor for Cells journal (2020 and 2022)
Memberships
Société des Neurosciences; World mitochondrial society; Society of Neuroscience; Club Exocytose-Endocytose; Club Francophone de l’autophagie.
Research Support as PI or co-PI
2024 : Grant from Fondation Alzheimer. PI
2022 : UCAJEDI "FELLOWSHIPS FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS". PI
2022-2023: Trans-disciplinary master project, IDEX-UCA-JEDI “Living systems Complexity and diversity”. Co-PI.
2021 : Grant from France Alzheimer. PI
2021 : Grant from Conseil départemental des Alpes Maritimes. PI-Coordinator
2019: IDEX-UCA-JEDI “Living systems Complexity and diversity”, seminar organization. Co-PI.
2018: Fondation Vaincre la Maladie d’Alzheimer (FVA). PI.
2017-2018: Trans-disciplinary master project, IDEX-UCA-JEDI “Living systems Complexity and diversity”. Co-PI.
2013-2016: Ligue européenne contre la maladie d’Alzheimer (LECMA). PI.
2008-2011: Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM). Co-PI.
2005-2008: Association Française contre les myopathies (AFM). Co-PI.
2004: Post-doctoral fellowship Roux, Pasteur institute.
2002: Long term post-doctoral fellowship from the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).
2001: Post-doctoral fellowship Award from the «Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer» (ARC).
2000: PhD fellowship from «Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale» (FRM).
1998: National PhD fellowship from «la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer» (LNCC).
Selected/invited oral communications and chair, last 3 years:
2023: "Journées de Recherche sur la SLA et les maladies du neurone moteur," FILSLAN-ARSLA, Paris
2023: European Calcium Society Workshop. "Mitochondrial Calcium Signaling in Health and Disease", Padova, Italy
2023 : NeuroFrance2023. Chair Symposia-Spreading in neurodegenerative diseases: from physiopathological mechanisms to clinical applications, Lyon
2022: Fond de dotation Clinatec, Grenoble
2022: 16th International Conference on Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases.
2021: Chair of the winter school “Mitochondria in health, disease and aging, Univeristé Côte d'Azur
2021: Symposium “post-translational modifications in neuronal physiology and brain disorders”
2021: Club Francophone de l’Autophagie (1st virtual meeting)
2021: 15th International Conference on Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases (4 selected presentations as PI) and chair (*)
2019: 6th “Joint Neurobiology IPMC - iBV meeting“, Université Côte d’Azur
2019: Club Alzheimer Montpellier, Genopolys
2019: IPMC, 30 years of biology on the Riviera
2019: 14th International Conference on Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases
2018: Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailande
2018: Université de Montpellier, INSERM U1198
2018: 9th World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria, Germany
2018: “Journées Francophones de la maladie d′Alzheimer et des syndrômes apparentés”
Dr. Chami Mounia is expert in the field of subcellular calcium signaling and intracellular organelles dysfunctions namely the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. In the field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), she demonstrated the impact of ER calcium homeostasis in AD pathogenesis and revealed the potential therapeutic benefit in targeting ER Calcium release to alleviate or treat AD. Dr. Chami reported the localization and the metabolism of APP in Mitochondria Associated Membranes thus interfering with lipid metabolism and mitochondria dysfunctions in AD. She highlighted novel mechanisms linking mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy failure to AD development.