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 2011: 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.
Research direction
Since 2011: CNRS UMR-7275_Principal investigator_ Research project: Endoplasmic reticulum signaling and of mitochondrial structure and function alterations in Alzheimer's disease: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic approaches.
2009-2010: The Italian Institute of technology_Principal investigator_ Research project: Role of calcium signaling in Alzheimer's Disease.
2005-2008: INSERM U807, Paris V University_Principal investigator_Research project: Physiopathology of Endoplasmic Reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Since 2008: Supervision of 6 PhD students (2 ongoing), 8 M.Sc. students, 4 research technicians, and 3 post-doctoral fellows (2 ongoing).
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
Reviewing committee of the Doctoral Programme "UNIPhD - Eight century legacy of multidisciplinary research and training for the next-generation talents, University of Padua, Italy.
Committee of the PhD Ministry fellowship (ED85); 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. 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
National & International grants: Agence de la Biomédecine (FR), MIUR & Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Padova (IT), Alzheimer Society (UK), Neurological Foundation (NZ), Alzheimer association (USA), FWO (BE), Canadian Institute of Health Res (CAN), and NSC (PL). Research articles : CDD, J Cell phys, Autophagy, Cell report, Brain, Alzheimer’s research and dementia, Nature Neuroscience.
Honors
Since 2022: Nominated deputy president of the scientific advisory board member of “Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer”
2021: Member of DSEP 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”
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
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:
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”
2018: Laureates ceremony of “ Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer 2018”, Medicine Academy, Paris
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 through the control of APP processing, the development of cognitive deficits and synaptic plasticity dysfunction, and also neuroinflammation. These studies reveal the potential therapeutic benefit in targeting ER Calcium release to alleviate or treat AD. Dr. Chami also reported the localization and the metabolism of APP in Mitochondria Associated Membranes thus interfering with lipid metabolism and mitochondria dysfunctions in AD. Recent studies by Dr. Chami highlight novel mechanisms linking mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy failure to AD development.