Michel Aurrand-Lions Ph D Immunology, Adhesion and Homeostasis
Course and current status
Michel Aurrand-Lions, Age 44
Principal Investigator Avenir Team Inserm
- Education and training
- 2006: PhD thesis in immunology, Center of Immunology Marseille Luminy (CIML), group of Pr P. Naquet, Marseille, France
- Professional experience
Research:
- 1998-2000: Human Frontier Science Program Organization post–doctoral fellowship in the group of Pr Beat. A. Imhof, Department of Pathology and Immunology, CMU, Geneva, Switzerland.
- 2000-2005: "Maitre-assistant" in the group of Pr Beat. A. Imhof, University of Geneva, Switzerland, Department of Pathology and Immunology.
- 2005-2007: Junior group leader, University of Geneva, Switzerland, Department of Pathology and Immunology.
- Since 2007: Principal investigator Avenir Team “Adhesion molecules in tumor/host interactions” Tenure CR1 Inserm in 2010, Cancerology Research Center of Marseille (CRCM, http://crcm.marseille.inserm.fr/).
Teaching:
- 2000-2005: Teaching in Immunology at the University of Geneva: “Defense and immunity”, Faculty of Medicine. Post-Grade teaching to Ph D students "Biology of epithelial cells", “Chapitres choisis” (around 80hours/year).
- Since 2007: Teaching to Master 1 and Master 2, Université de la Méditerranée: Inflammation, leukocyte migration, angiogenesis, mouse models of tumorogenesis (around 12 hours/year)
Scientific summary
Human malignancies arise from the loss of cell homeostasis and uncontrolled cell proliferation as a consequence of genetic alterations. In addition to these genetic alterations, it has become accepted that carcinogenesis and metastasis are further controlled by cellular interactions between tumor cells, endothelial cells, stromal cells and immuno-competent cells. These interactions are supported by adhesion molecules and cytokines which shape the tumor microenvironment.
Dr M. Aurrand-Lions has been involved in the discovery of several cell surface molecules such as Vanin-1, JAM-B and JAM-C which have all been involved in the control of inflammation or leukocyte trafficking. More recently the research activity has been recentered on the study of JAM-B and JAM-C in the control of hematopoietic environment of bone marrow and lymph nodes, two prominent metastatic sites for various tumours. The current research projects aim at understanding the relationships between these adhesion molecules and the known mechanisms of lymph node and bone marrow homeostasis which is a prerequesite to understand their disregulation during carcinogenesis and metastasis.
