CV Science

Soazig Le Lay Soazig Le Lay, PhD in Physiology

Course and current status

University degrees and qualifications

2023 : Promoted Senior Reserach Director DR2 INSERM

2012 : HDR, Univ Paris Descartes (Paris V)

2010 : Promoted Research Scientist CR1 INSERM

2006 : Recruited Junior Scientist (CR2) at INSERM

2003-2006: Marie-Curie Post doctoral Fellow at MPI-Cellular Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany

2003 : PhD in Physiology, Univ. Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI)

1999: Animal Experimentation level I, Univ Toulouse (Toulouse III)

Professionnal experiences

From 2021, INSERM U1087, Team IV (B Cariou), Research axis : Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and intercellular communication in metabolic diseases (EVlink), Angers & Nantes

2012-2020, INSERM U1063 (R Andriantsitohaina), Angers, France. "Adipocytes and membrane remodeling : characterization of adipose tissue-derived extracellular vesicles" 

2006-2012, INSERM U872 - Equipe 8 (P Ferré), Research group Isabelle Dugail, Paris. "Role of caveolin proteins in lipid droplet expansion"

2003-2006 : Post Doctoral fellow : Max Planck Institute of Cellular Biology and Genetics, Pr Kai Simons, Dresden, Germany. "Lipid microdomains (so-called lipid rafts) and adipocytes"

2000-2003 : PhD student : INSERM U671 (Pascal Ferré), Paris, France. Research program: Role of SREBPs transcription factors in adipocyte metabolism

Scientific summary

I am getting interested for 20 years in molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating white adipose tissue (WAT) physiopathology and obesity-associated metabolic diseases (type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis/NASH) whose occurrence dramatically increased over the past few years.

WAT constitutes the main energy supply in the body, being mobilized according to body needs, which implies a permanent communication with other cells composing WAT as well as with other organs. In addition, adipocyte, the functional cell unit of WAT dedicated to lipid storage, has to face with drastic changes in cell size volume depending on hormonal and nutritional status.

Based on a solid background and knowledge in lipid trafficking and adipocyte cellular biology, my research focuses on adipocyte membrane remodeling processes occurring during obesity. We aim to test how WAT derived-extracellular vesicles (EVs) act as a mode of intercellular communication and participate to the onset of metabolic complications related to obesity. Original and innovative approaches are employed to better characterize EVs in term of proteins, lipid and genetic material content. The impact of EVs on the metabolism of adipocytes, macrophages and hepatocytes constitute the heart of my studies.

EVs recently appeared as powerful tools which can be used as diseases biomarkers and therapeutic vectors in clinics. My research theme therefore takes part of this emerging field in the perspective to use EVs to prevent from cardiometabolic complications.