CV Science

Frank LEZOUALC'H PhD Molecular Endocrinology

Course and current status

PRESENT POSITION

Director of Research INSERM

Deputy Director of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease,

INSERM-University of Toulouse, France

Head of the Laboratory, "Signaling and Pathophysiology of Heart failure"

INSERM UMR-1297

University of Toulouse

 

EDUCATION

2000      Accreditation to direct research, Speciality: Pharmacy, University of Paris-Saclay

1995      Ph.D in Molecular Endocrinology, with Honors, University Pierre & Marie Curie, CNRS-Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris

1991      Master Degree in Molecular Endocrinology, University of Paris-Saclay

 

APPOINTMENTS

2021-  Research Director (DR1) INSERM

2018   Deputy Director of I2MC, INSERM, University of Toulouse

2014   Head of the department « Cardiac & Kidney Remodeling», INSERM, University of Toulouse

2011 Head of Laboratory « Signaling & Pathophysiology of Heart Failure», INSERM,                                   Toulouse

2006-10  Team leader « Small G protein and Cardiac Pathophysiology», INSERM UMR-769,                            Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Paris-Sud, Châtenay-Malabry, France

2005-20  Research Director (DR2) INSERM

1999-05  Group leader «Molecular and  Pharmacological Characterisation of 5-HT₄ receptors», INSERM U-446, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Paris-Sud, Châtenay-Malabry, France

1999  Research Associate (CR1) INSERM “Cellular & Molecular Cardiology”, University of Paris-Sud, Châtenay-Malabry, France

1998   Postdoc, INSERM “Cellular & Molecular Cardiology”, University of Paris-Sud,                                      Châtenay-Malabry, France

1996-97  Postdoc, Max-Planck-Institute für Psychiatrie, Neuroendocrinology, Munich,                  

 

HONOURS and AWARDS

• Member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Health, University of Toulouse (2020-  )
• Member of the Committee on International Relation, University of Toulouse (2020 -  )
• Member (nominated) of the Scientif. Council of the Doctoral School “Biology - Health”, Univ Toulouse (2016- )
• Member (nominated) of the French National Research Agency committee « Pathophysiology » (2018 -2019)
• Member (nominated) of the French Foundation for Medical Research for Cardiovascular Research (2017)
• Winner of Bayer « Grants4Target_Novel Target for Drug Develoment » (2017)
• Laboratory certified by the French Foundation for Medical Research (“Equipe FRM”2016-2019”)
• Representative (nominated) of Inserm to the « Directorate of Medical Research and Innovation», Toulouse Hospital (2011-2016)
• Member of the steering committee of the Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular diseases, INSERM, Toulouse (2011- )
• Member (nominated) of the French National Research Agency committee “Physio. National & International” (2010-11)
• Chair of the committee “Chaire d’excellence, Inserm-University Paris 6, Pierre & Marie Curie” (2010)
• Member (nominated) of the administrative board, Faculty of Pharmacy, Univ Paris-Sud (2001-2006)
• Laboratory certified by the French Foundation for Medical Research (“Equipe FRM”2006-2009) 
• Editorial Board for Cells (2020- )  
• Reviewer for: Circulation, Circ. Res., Journal of Clinical Investigation, PNAS, J. Cell Biology, Cardiovac. Res, British J of Pharmacol, JMCC, Am. J. Physiol., Plos One, BBA,    
• Expert for the AERES and HCERES (2007- ) 
• Participation in numerous selection committees: Ass. Prof, Prof, >40 PhD thesis and HDR 
• Grants from the French National Research Agency in 2006, 2009, 2017, 2019, 2020
• Member (nominated) of INSERM Study Section CSS4 “Cardiovascular, Kidney, Muscle” (2012-2016)  

 

Memberships and involvement in organizations

• Council member (elected) of the International Society for Heart Research - ES (2018- )
• Nucleus member (elected) of the ESC Working Group on Myocardial Function (2020- )
• Council member of the nucleus « GRRC » (elected), French Society of Cardiology (2007-2017)
• Member of CARDIATEAM European project on Diabetic cardiomyopathy, (The Innovative Medicines Initiative N° : 821508) (2019- 2024)
• Member of the CNRS network “RCPG-Physio-Med” (2012- 2021).
• Member of the « TRANSAUTOPHAGY  COST ACTION », European Network of Multidisciplinary Research and Translation of Autophagy knowledge « COST Aut(2016-2021)

 

PUBLICATIONS

• Total>100, H index=44 (Web of Science), Sum of Times Cited : 13,549

 

VALORISATION

• Cofounder of the Biotech. Company “Myotarget S.A”
• Author of 11 patents (2 under licence)

 

INVITED TALKS

• 50 invitated talks to major international meetings of cardiology, symposium and seminar since 2005.
• Recent invitations:

- International Society for Heart Research (2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015)

- European Society of Cardiology (2019, 2017), Gordon Conf. USA (2015)

 

MENTORING

• 12 PhD students
• 12 post-doc/experienced researchers
• >40 Masters or other junior students

Scientific summary

AREA of RESEARCH

MECHANISMS of HEART FAILURE - THERAPEUTICS INNOVATION - CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE - SIGNALING - METABOLISM

 

Heart failure (HF) is among the most prevalent diseases in developed countries and its incidence tends to increase dramatically with aging. We aim to determine specific intracellular signaling networks activated by acute or chronic cardiac stress (ischemia, adrenergic overdrive) with the overarching objective of identifying relevant drug targets to treat or block the progression of HF.

We have characterized novel signalosomes involved in cardiac pathological remodeling (hypertrophy, fibrosis, cell death) in response to adrenergic over-stimulation and ischemia (acute or chronic). These signaling events occur in different subcellular compartments (i.e mitochondria) and mainly involve the cAMP-binding protein Epac1. In addition, we have also identified a novel protein named Carabin and an Epac1 pharmacological inhibitor (AM-001) that protect the heart against cardiac stress and prevent the development of HF. Our research project is a follow up of the work done by the team over the past three years:

1- Decipher how non-classical signaling proteins (i.e Epac, Carabin) located in subcellular compartments (i.e nucleus, mitochondria) influence key cellular processes (i.e metabolism, death, hypertrophy) and contribute to the development of HF, including HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

2- Decode the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in cardiomyocyte senescence and cardiac ageing and study their impact in age-associated cardiac diseases including HFpEF.

3- Develop therapies for cardiac disease based on new knowledge derived from our studies.