CV Science

Nadia Cherradi PhD Molecular and Cellular Biology, DR2 INSERM

Course and current status

After a PhD training in the University Grenoble Alpes (Grenoble, France) and a post-doc at the University Hospital of Geneva (Switzerland) focused on the molecular regulation of adrenal steroidogenesis, I have been recruited by INSERM in 2006. I am currently heading the Team “Invasion Mechanisms in Angiogenesis and Cancer” (INSERM Unit 1292, Biology and Biotechnology for Health, Biosanté) at the Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble (French Atomic Commission CEA), dedicated to (1) the study of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs in cancer and (2) the development of innovative anti-cancer therapies targeting mRNA stability regulators and specific kinases. Our research focuses on Adrenocortical Cancer and Kidney Cancer.

Academic position

• 2021: Team Leader, INSERM U1292, Team "Invasion Mechanisms in Angiogenesis and Cancer" - IRIG CEA Grenoble
• 2021: Research Director (DR2 INSERM) - IRIG CEA Grenoble
• 2016-2020: Group Leader "RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs in Cancer" INSERM U1036 - IRIG CEA Grenoble
• 2006-2015: Senior Researcher (CR1 INSERM), U1036 INSERM - IRIG CEA Grenoble

Membership to scientific societies

• Member of the Executive Board of the French Society of Endocrinology since January 2020.
• Member of the Scientific Board of the French Society of Endocrinology since January 2019.
• Member of the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENS@T) since 2010.
• Member of the National Network INCA-COMETE since 2004
• President and founding member of the association G2L2 (under the french law 1901) (for Grenoble, Genève, Lyon, Lausanne, representing the research groups in Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism of Rhône-Alpes Universities (2008-2013).
• Member of the French Angiogenesis Society since 2011
• Member of the French Endocrinology Society since 2004

Awards

• Riotton Pharmaceutical Award (Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, 1997)
• Mara E. Lieberman Award (Endocrine Society, Toronto, 2000)
• Searle Young Investigator Award (Aldosterone Conference, Toronto, 2000)
• Servier Pharmaceutical Award (Swiss Endocrine Society, Bern, 2002)
• Post-doctoral fellowship from La Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (2002-2004)
• Post-doctoral fellowship from La Fondation de France (2005)
• Recipient of the INSERM National Research Program in Reproduction and Endocrinology 2007 (PNRRE)
• Recipient of the INSERM National Program in Translational Research (Contrat Hospitalier de Recherche Translationnelle, 2010-2013).

Scientific summary

A tight link between dysregulations in mRNA decay mechanisms and cancer hallmarks is now clearly established. Notably, abnormal stabilization of transcripts encoding pro-tumoral cytokines, chemokines or proto-oncogenes occurs during tumor development and progression. Our research aims at deciphering the mechanisms involved in such dysregulations and focus on 2 key players in the control of mRNA fate: the Tristetraprolin zinc finger proteins TTP/ZFP36 and Tis11b/ZFP36L1, and microRNAs. We are using an integrative approach combining cellular and molecular biology, preclinical models and translational/clinical studies. Our program runs along 3 complementary axes: 1) the study of the molecular mechanisms through which TTP proteins and microRNAs regulate mRNA decay in normal and cancer cells; 2) the search for alterations in mRNA stability regulators (TTP proteins and microRNAs) in adrenocortical cancer and their evaluation as potential diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers; 3) the development of preclinical anti-cancer therapies targeting mRNA stability regulators and the multi-functional kinase CK2 in adrenocortical cancer and kidney cancer.