CV Science

Patrice FORT Basic brain research with a focus on sleep and its pathologies

Course and current status

Research Director CNRS (second class, Prof. eqvt) at the Center for Research in Neurosciences of Lyon (CRNL) CNRS UMR5292 - INSERM U1028, University Lyon 1, Lyon (France)

University degrees 
1991: PhD in Neurosciences with honors (University Lyon 1) under the supervision of Pr M. Jouvet 
1987: D.EA. (Master degree) in Neuroscience, with honors (University Lyon 1)

Post-Doctoral training and professional activities 
2010-present: Research Director CNRS  (Prof. eqvt) at CRNL, UMR5292 - CNRS, Lyon (France) 
2002-10: Researcher first class (Asst. Prof. eqvt), UMR5167 - CNRS , Lyon (France)
1994-00: Researcher Second class (Asst. Prof. eqvt), U52 – INSERM, Lyon (France)
1992-94: Post-doctoral fellow under the supervision of Pr Michel Mühlethaler, University of Geneva (Switzerland) 
1987-91: PhD student, U52 – INSERM, Lyon (France)

Number of articles in peer-reviewed journals: 98
Number of book chapters: 18 Index H = 40; Mean citati 4 Sum citati (january 2019)

Primary Affiliation: member of the SLEEP team, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL), CNRS UMR5292, INSERM U1028, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier Lyon-Bron  

ORCID profile : https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1211-8631

Scientific summary

Sleep research /  Basic neurobiological mechanisms for sleep regulation / REM sleep / Paradoxical sleep / Rodent models of sleep pathologies / REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) / Parkinson's DIsease / Sleep Apnea / Narcolepsy / Physiological and cognitive functions of REM sleep

Since its creation, the main objective of the SLEEP team of the CRNL is to unravel the mechanisms controlling the sleep-waking cycle with an emphasis on the captivating state of paradoxical sleep (PS or REM sleep), the state of dreaming activity. PS is affected in several neurological pathologies and its physiological and or cognitive functions remain largely unknown, although likely involved in learning, memory, mood regulation and development. Thanks to huge amounts of data harvested in rodents over the last 15 years, our team is strongly recognized internationally for the detailed description of the complex neuronal networks responsible for PS and the establishment of testable models on its regulation and dysfunctions at the origin of two sleep pathologies, namely REM sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD, an alpha-synucleinopathy prodromal of Parkinson's Disease, PD) and narcolepsy (caused by the loss of the hypothalamic orexin neurons, possibly due to an autoimmune attack). We now propose to identify the dysfunctions occurring during narcolepsy and RBD using up to date experimental approaches (opto-, chemogenetics using AAVs and transgenic mice). Our current task is evaluate the longitudinal development of RBD and PD in mice endowed with an experimental alpha-synucleinopathy induced in glutamate neurons generating muscle atonia during PS. We will also determine whether abnormal motor behaviors in RBD are generated by the limbic structures activated during PS and that may play a key role in memory consolidation known to occur during PS.