Frances Yen PhD Nutritional biochemistry, specialist lipids and lipoproteins

Course and current status

Current position - Director of research 2, INSERM, (1996-present) 

EA4422-Lipids and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (Lipidomix), ENSAIA, INPL, PRES-Nancy University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy

2011-present, Director

2009-present, Member

JE2482-Functional genomics and lipid metabolism (Lipidomix), ENSAIA, INPL, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy

2005-2008, Director

ENSAIA, INPL, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy

2003-2004 Laboratoy of Medicine and Molecular Therapy (B Bihain)           

Sabbatical leave between 1998-2003

Immusol, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA

2002-2003, Director of Core Technology, Product Development

ValiGen US, Inc (Cibus Genetics), San Diego, CA, USA

2001-2002, Executive Director, Physiological Genomics

Genset Corporation, San Diego, CA, USA

2001, Senior Director, Functional Genomics

1998-2000, Director of Cell Biology, Functional Genomics 

INSERM U391, Rennes, France (director, B. Bihain)

1996-present, Director of research 2, INSERM

1993-1996, Associate professor (MCU), University of Rennes I

1993, Visiting scientist (Poste vert), INSERM

Louisiana State University Medical Center, Department of Physiology, New Orleans, LA, USA

1991-1992, Assistant Professor

1989-1991, Research fellow (Dr. P.S. Roheim's laboratory)

Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

1987-1989, Research fellow (Dr. R.J. Deckelbaum's laboratory)

Education

1980    B.S., physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA

1987    Ph.D., nutritional biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA

Scientific summary

Dyslipidemia represents an important risk factor for a number of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular, metabolic (obesity, diabetes), and neurodegenerative diseases.  My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of the removal of dietary lipids in the form of chylomicrons from the circulation through lipoprotein receptors. We identified, characterized and cloned a novel hepatic receptor for lipoproteins, the lipolysis stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR), which is implicated in the clearance fo apoB,E containing lipoproteins during the postprandial phase.  Our recent work reveals that this receptor represents a potential molecular link between hyperlipidemia, obesity and atherosclerosis.