CV Science

Jorge Boczkowski MD PhD Respiratory Physiology and Pathophysiology

Course and current status

Date of birth : 21 January 1957

Present position

• Director, Inserm U955 (Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale), Créteil, France.

Titles

• MD. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (1981).
• PhD. University of Paris 5, France (1992).
• Respiratory Diseases specialist. National Mecical Council, France (1995).

• Junior Investigator, Inserm, France (1990-1999).
• Research Director, Inserm, France (1999-2014).
• Full Professor, Respiratory Medicine (since 2014).

Research positions

• Investigator, Inserm Unit 408 and 700 (1990-2004).
• Team Director, Inserm Unit 700, Paris, France (2004-2009).
• Team Director, Inserm Unit 955, Créteil, France (since 2009).
• Director, Inserm Unit 955, Créteil, France (since 20015).

Other professional activities

• Scientific Committee, 6 International Congress on Heme oxygenases (2009)
• Organizing Committee, European Science Foundation Conference on Nanocarbons (2009)
• Strategic Committee on Nanotechnology, French National Agency for Research (2006-2008)
• Scientific Committee 5 International Congress on Heme oxygenases (2007)
• Evaluation Committee, French National Agency for Research (2008)
• Inserm Scientific Commission 6 (2008-2012)
• Inserm Clinical Research Commission (2004-2008)
• Paris 7 University, School of Biology Evaluation Committee (2004-2008)
• Advisory Scientific Commission, INERIS (2005-2009)
• National Observatory on Micro and Nanotechnologies, France (2008-2013)
• Advisor for Biology and Health Sciences, Créteil University (2012-2014)

Scientific summary

Environmental aggressions constitute a major problem of public health. Jorge Boczkowski’s research examines respiratory consequences of cigarette smoke or nanoparticles (size lower than 100 nm) inhalation; the role of oxidative stress being the central pathophysiological axis.

A first aspect of this research program examines the role of cellular senescence as a mechanism involved in the effects of oxidants in cigarette smoke and occupational-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathophysiology. A translational approach is used including in vivo and in vitro studies investigating the respective roles of p53 and p16 (key proteins involved in accelerated senescence) as well as lipid mediators such as prostaglandin E2.

The second aspect of the program characterizes (in vivo and in vitro in mice) the relation between physico-chemical properties (shape, size,...) of carbonaceous and metallic nanoparticles, oxidants production (extra and intracellular) and pulmonary biological effects (inflammation, growth factors production and proteases/antiproteases and apoptosis/proliferation balances).