CV Science

Nadine GERARD Senior Research Scientist Reproductive Physiology

Course and current status

Current position

Researcher in the department of Reproductive Physiology and Behavior (PRC) of the French National Institute of Agronomical Research (INRA) localised in Nouzilly (F-37380)

Co leader of the team "Cellular interactions and Fertility" since 2013

Previous positions

Post doctoral researcher in the Institute of Parmacology and Toxicology of Lausanne (Switzerland, 1993-94): Regulated expression of the glucose transporter GLUT2 in pancreatic b-cells

Doctoral position in the departement of Reproductive Biology, Sciences University of Rennes (F-35000, 1989-1993)

Formation

2000- Agreement for research management and direction (HDR, Rennes University): Follicular development and oocyte maturation in the mare

1992- PhD in reproductive biology (Rennes University, France); thesis: In vitro regulation of Sertoli cells by germ cells in the rat: involvement of paracrine factors, cell contacts, and residuel bodies

1987-Graduate in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medical Sciences, Rennes University (F-35000)

Scientific summary

PhD in Rennes University (F) on cell-cell interactions in the rat testis, and more specifically on Sertoli cell regulation by germ cells.

Post doc on the expression of the glucose transporter GLUT2 in pancreatic b-cells.

Recruted in 1994 by the French National Institute of Agronomical Research (INRA) in the Animal Physiology Unit of INRA, joined the Equine Reproduction team, working on the ovarian activity and ovulation in the mare. In 2013 creation of the team named “Cellular Interactions and Fertility” and development of research on sperm cells-oviduct epithelial cells interactions in mammals and chicken. Co-heading of the team.

The work of the team is aimed on interactions between gametes and embryos and somatic environment. The oviduct is the natural site of sperm transport and storage, fertilization and early embryonic development, and it maintains a dialogue with gametes and embryos, which is needed to gametes maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation embryo development. The objectives of the team are to study this dialogue and its functional consequences on the various events leading to embryo implantation (preparation of the sperm cells, fertilization, early development). To reach them, strategies of molecular and cellular biology are developed in various model species (mammals, birds). Crossing these approaches and models will allow obtaining an integrated understanding of these events and their functional consequences on the fertility and helping the development and improvement of reproductive biotechnologies. The research area of the ICF team is organized around 3 main axis: 1/  Control of sperm function, 2/ Regulation of fertilization, 3/ Regulation of embryo development.