Team "Central nervous system: From development to repair" *

Research interests:

Neural circuits allow interactions with the outside world and homeostasis inside the body. Their dysfunction (neurodevelopmental diseases, neurodegeneration or traumatic lesions) leads to alterations in motor, sensory and cognitive functions. Our goal is to understand how circuits are set up in the embryo and how these circuits can be built again in adults after a lesion.

Our team studies neural circuits formation from different aspects:

Setting up circuits during development

We study the formation of neuronal circuits in the embryo using two circuits as models: the establishment of the cortex and the development of visual circuits.

 

Neural circuits formation in a context of regeneration

We are studying mechanisms underlying axon regrowth in adults. In addition, we aim to connect these regenerating axons to their proper targets to allow functional return (vision, sensory and motor)

Translational approach to promote nervous system regeneration

The final objective of our work is to promote nervous system repair in patients to allow functional recovery. We have initiated innovative strategies to move our best candidates from basic research to applied research and drug discovery. Currently we are developing two collaborative projects:

- With Sabine Chierici (from the chemistry-DCM- department of the University) and Stephane Belin (GIN- U1216) we set up a peptidomimetic approach to obtain a bank of peptide mimics to promote regeneration of the central nervous system. We have established a screening method ranging from embryonic neuron cultures to in-vivo survival/regeneration tests to select the best peptides and be able to generate drug candidates.

- With Stephane Belin and Clement Hebert, we are using neuro-implants and circuit training to allow circuits reformation and functional recovery.

 

Technics used in the lab:

Ex-vivo and in-vivo models of central nervous system lesions (optic nerve, spinal cord)

Molecular biology: cloning, PCR-qPCR, NGS

Viruses: production/use of AAV viruses, lentiviruses and rabies viruses

 Cell biology: Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, in-situ hybridization

 Biochemistry: immunoprecipitation, western blot, proteomics

 Cell culture: primary neuron culture, cell lines, explants/microfluidics

 Microscopy: epifluorescence, confocal, live imaging, 2-photons

Behavioral test to assess visual, motor and sensory recovery

 

Main collaborations:

Dr Isabelle Arnal (CNRS, GIN U1216, France)

Dr Stephane Belin (INSERM, GIN U1216, France)

Pr Alain Chédotal (IdV, Paris, France)

Dr Sabine Chierici (CNRS, DCM Grenoble, France).

Dr Yohan Couté (EDyP, CEA France).

Dr Clement Hebert (INSERM, GIN U1216, France)

Dr Benoit Laurent (Sherbrook University, Canada).

 

Recruitment

Pensez à consulter nos offres dans la section "NOUS REJOINDRE".

 

the team welcome all application for PhD, postodoc... send a CV and letter of motivation at  stephane.belininserm.fr (homaira[dot]nawabi[at]inserm[dot]fr)

 

Social Media :

X : Nawabi-Belin Lab @N_Blab

     Institut des neurosciences de Grenoble @GINeuroGrenoble

LinkedIn :  Homaira Nawabi

Partners :