CV Science

Pascal Mermillod PhD Molecular Biology

Course and current status

 Current position

Research Engineer, National Institute of Agronomical Research (INRA)

Reproductive Physiology and Behavior, UMR6175, INRA, CNRS, Tours University, 37380 Nouzilly.

Leader of the team "Cell Interactions and Fertility"

Previous position

Deputy Director of “Physioly of Reproduction and Behavior” research unit (Inra – Cnrs – Tours University), more than 150 permanent workers, 2006-2009.

Post-Doctoral fellowship in the Unit of Veterinary Sciences, Professors F. Dessy and A. Massip, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.

Doctoral position in the Unit of Developmental Genetics, Professor J.J. Picard, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.

Formation

1998-Agreement for Research Direction (HDR, Tours University)

1989-PhD in Molecular Biology (Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) - Thesis : Study of P53, a potential marker gene of tumorigenic Xenopus borealis cell lines. Annex Thesis :Improvement of apo(a) phenotype determination by low speed centrifugation of denatured and reduced plasmas. 

1985-Graduate in Biological Sciences, Catholic University of Louvain

Scientific summary

PhD in Belgium (Catholic University of Louvain) on carcino-embryonic markers in a Xenopus modelin Molecular Genetics Department.

Post-doc in the laboratory of Professors A. Massip and F. Dessy in the same university, obtained the first calves born in Belgium from frozen thawed in vitro produced embryos.

Recruited by Inra in 1992 and has now more than 25 years experience in in vitro production of embryos from different domestic and wild species (cattle, sheep, goat, pig, deers) through in vitro maturation of primary oocytes, in vitro fertilisation and in vitro culture of resulting embryos up to the blastocyst stage. This also includes further use of the resulting embryos (quality parameters, cryopreservation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis). His work in this field leaded to 213 publications, including 23 review papers and 4 book chapters (cited 6558 times, H factor = 46). His work has been mainly focused on the regulation of pre implantation embryo development by oviduct originating factors and on oocyte differentiation during folliculogenesis, leading to the acquisition of developmental potential.

The work of his team is now aimed at the study of interactions between gametes and embryos and somatic environment. The increased knowledge of oocyte differentiation and embryo physiology drawn from this work allowed to improve the success rate of assisted reproductive techniques (embryo production and transfer, IVF, cloning, transgenesis and genome edition in pigs,…) that could be used to increase offspring from high genetic value females in domestic species and help to preserve endangered domestic breeds and wild species. He is reviewer for several international journals (Theriogenology, Reproduction, Biology of Reproduction, Molecular Human Reproduction and Development,…), editor for four journals (Animal, BMC Veterinary Research, Journal of Genetics and Cell Biology and Journal of Reproduction and Development) and expert for different grant agencies (France, Europe, USA, Canada,…). Pascal Mermillod is leading a research team including 10 researchers and engineers and 3 technicians. He has been deputy director the physiology of reproduction and behaviour research unit including more than 150 permanent staff from Inra (National Institute of Agronomical Research), Cnrs (National Centre of Scientific Research) and Tours University between 2006 and 2010. He is member of the executive committee of ICAR (International Congress of Animal Reproduction) and was chair of the organization of this congress in 2016 in Tours (France), 1,000 participants from 65 countries, 200 speakers, 5 days, 53 full papers published).