CV Science

Alexandra Rebsam PhD in Neurosciences

Course and current status

2019-present: Research Associate (CRCN INSERM) in the team of Dr. Alain Chédotal at Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
Retinal origin of developmental defects in albinism - Funding: Retina France, Genespoir

2011-2018: Research Associate (CRCN INSERM) in the team of Dr. Patricia Gaspar at INSERM U839, Institut du Fer à Moulin, Paris, France
Activity-dependent and independent mechanisms of visual map formation - Funding: ANR, Retina France, Fondation NRJ, Genespoir

2010: Research Associate Scientist
2005-2010: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
in the lab of Pr. Carol Mason at Columbia University, New York, USA,
Development of retinogeniculate projections in mutant mice presenting decussation defects - Funding: Gatsby Pilot Project Grant, HFSP, FRM

1999-2004: PhD student in the team of Dr. Patricia Gaspar at INSERM U106, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, FRANCE
Development and plasticity of thalamocortical fibers in the somatosensory cortex of normal and MAOA-KO mice - Funding: Bourse MNRT and France Télécom Mécénat Autisme

1998 (2 months): Master student in the lab of Dr. Takao Hensch at Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Saitama, JAPAN
Segregation of retinogeniculate fibers in the visual thalamus

Scientific summary

My main interest is to understand how proper neural connections are established during brain development. I use mouse visual system as a model to analyze the contribution of activity dependent and independent mechanisms in the formation of connectivity. Retinal projections form a visual map in their target organized in a topographic and eye-specific manner. This specific organization is crucial for vision and allows to easily map any defects caused by improper targeting. My aim is to understand how activity and molecules shape the visual map during brain development. In addition, we try to understand how pigmentation affects vision, as people with albinism have all visual problems linked to abnormal development of the eye. We combine mouse genetic methods, in utero and ex vivo retinal electroporation techniques together with cell culture, tracing and histological methods.

Website: http://www.rebsam.org

I am part of the team of Dr. Alain Chédotal at the Institut de la Vision in Paris, France.