CV Science

Frédéric Laumonnier PhD Human Genetics and Physiopathology

Course and current status

Current Position: Team leader, UMR 1253 "iBrain", University of Tours, Inserm (Tours, France)

- Since April 2007     INSERM researcher,  UMR « Imaging and Brain » INSERM U1253, Team "Neurogenomics and neuronal physiopathology", Tours (France). Scientific topic : genetic and neuronal networks involved in cognitive dysfunction ; autism ; intellectual disability ; neurobiology

- 2005-2007      Research Associate, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Team « Genes to Cognition », Hinxton (United Kingdom). Scientific topic : Functional analysis of the dynamics of postsynaptic proteins linked to the NMDA receptor.

- 2004       PhD in Human Genetics and Physiopatholgy, INSERM U619, Tours, France. Scientific topic : Identification of genes involved in autistic disorder and mental retardation ; glutamate synapse ; X-linked intellectual disability ; channelopathy

Scientific summary

Genetic and molecular networks involved in autism and intellectual disabilities.

My research work carried out during my Ph.D (2001-2004) led to the characterization of the first mutations associated with intellectual disability and autism, involving the SOX3, NLGN4X, PHF8 and KCNMA1 genes, which encode proteins for synapse function and transcriptional processes. These findings suggested that autism and intellectual disability could share, at least partly, common genes and biological pathways (NMDA receptor complex) although these conditions have a distinct definition.

Thereafter I moved in Seth Grant’s lab (team Genes to Cognition) at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (Hinxton, UK) to study the dynamics of proteins of the postsynaptic density complex using Live cell imaging approaches (FRAP).

I am currently the coordinator of the team  "Neurogenomics and neuronal physiopathology" included in the research Unit  "Imaging and Brain" (INSERM, University of Tours) in which our major scientific objectives are the identification and the functional analysis of genes involved in neurodevelopmental psychiatric (intellectual disabilites and autism) and neurodegenatve disorders (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

I have been involved in european (Genetic and epigenetic networks in cognitive dysfunction, (www.gencodys.eu) and national projects that follow a systems biology and integrative approaches, with a focus on the genetic bases of intellectual disabilties and autism, to reveal the common molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment.  

My research projects are fully translational and directly interact with the departments of Clinical genetics and Child Psychiatry of the University Hospital of Tours.