Axonal regeneration: from molecular understanding to circuit formation

On Monday, November 16th 2026, Apolline Delaunay will defend her PhD "Axonal regeneration: from molecular understanding to circuit formation".

This Phd was supervised by Homaira Nawabi of the team "Central nervous system: From development to repair" and Stéphane Belin of the team "Translation regulation in normal and pathological conditions" of the GIN.

Jury members :

- Juliette GODIN, Research Director, INSERM Délégation Est, reviewer
- Servane TAUSZIG DELAMASURE, Research Director, CNRS Délégation Rhône Alpes Auvergne, reviewer
- Mireille ALBRIEUX, University Professor, Université Grenoble Alpes, examiner
- Loïc BROIX, Junior Professor, Sorbonne Université, examiner
- Homaira NAWABI, Research Director, INSERM, supervisor
- Stéphane BELIN, Research Director, INSERM, co-supervisor

Abstract :

Regeneration of the mature nervous system remains a challenge. Even if some big insights allowed to promote regeneration (from short to long distance regeneration), functional recovery is still out of reach. Indeed, many neurons do not respond to the molecular pathways found so far and most of regenerative axons present strong projection defects. To counteract these problems I focused my thesis on two axis :

1) role of the ribosomal complex in the context of regeneration. Indeed, studies from the past decade shed light on the possible direct regulation of protein synthesis by the translational complex. Our recent finding suggests the adaptability of the translation complex after axon injury. The aim of my first axis is to decipher the composition and role of ribosomal complex during the regeneration of the nervous system.

2) proper targeting of regenerating axons. Many regenerating axons show pathfinding errors. However, during development, guidance molecules are expressed to create patterns that control innervation. Our previous work shows that guidance molecules are still expressed in mature nervous system and that the majority of them was repulsive. In this context, the aim of my second axis was to modulate a family of guidance cues to remove this repulsivity and create functional synapses that allow a functional recovery.