Postdoctoral position in stroke cerebral vasopasm and neuroinflammation in mouse models of subarachnoid hemorrhage

 Research team

     Astrocyte and Vascular Niche, INSERM U1239, Normandie Rouen University (URN), headed by Dr Hélène Castel, DR2 Inserm researcher, Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB), CURIB, 25 Rue Tesnière, 76 821 Mont-Saint-Aignan.
     Supported by Fondation pour la recherche sur les AVC (FRM) - 1 year (renewable 1 year) - September/October 2018 - Salary maximum: 50 000 euros/12 months.

Job description

     This work project is based on team previous results showing that the vasoactive peptide urotensin II (UII) in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients may constitute a diagnostic marker of cerebral vasospasm, and that novel ligands of UII receptor prevent cerebral vasospasm in a subarachnoid mouse model. We are looking for a motivated post-doctoral fellow to investigate the cerebral vasospam and gliovascular consequences leading to neurobehavioral alterations of wild-type and transgenic hemorrhage mice. Specific neuroinflammatory processes will be assessed in vivo, through MPIO targeted against endothelial adhesion molecules for MRI (WP1 in collaboration with Pr D. Vivien, Caen). At the molecular level, the aim is to understand endothelial cells integrity/EndMT transition and UII receptor signaling signature pathways activated by newly designed ligands, in vitro and in vivo (WP2). We ambition to propose therapeutic molecules targeting the UII receptor, to prevent post-hemorrhage deficits.

Laboratory

     The Rouen’s Inserm team Astrocyte and Vascular Niche (ASTROVASC) belongs to the Inserm Unit 1239 hosted by URN. ASTROVASC is composed of researchers, professors and clinical researchers, and is recognized for fundamental and translational research in the field of astrocyte/glioma cell brain invasion, and behavioural murine models of brain vascular pathologies. ASTROVASC is co-head of the “cancerandcognition” platform (http://www.cancerandcognition. com/) and is an international player in the cancer and cognition task force. The team was involved in European Interreg and TransManche programs, is coordinator of French national research projects and is under contracts with private companies. The structure offers high level research facilities including the PRIMACEN (Cell imaging of Normandie), PISSARO (Instrumental and Analytical Sciences Separative) and SCAC (animal behavioural facility) platforms.

 Qualifications and skills

     Applicants must hold a PhD in Neuroscience/Neurobehavior and experience in neurovascular field is strongly recommended. A solid backgroung in animal experimental and surgery procedure is essential. Rodent brain immunohistochemical/time-lapse macroconfocal or multiphoton microscopy will be appreciated.

How to apply to the position

Please send the following information to Dr Hélène Castel -  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• A complete CV including description of the previous research
• A cover letter and motivations
• Names and contact information of references

 

 

22^nd Annual Meeting of the LARC Neuroscience Network  - October, 19^th 2018 - Mont-Saint-Aignan

     The 22^nd meeting of the LARC-Neuroscience Network will be organized on Friday, October 19^th, 2018, In Rouen, at the Centre Universitaire de Recherche et d'Innovation en Biologie (CURIB). You can find information and registration access at the following address: http://larc-neurosciences.org/registration. Abstract submission is open at the following address: http://larc-neurosciences.org/abstract.

    During this meeting in Normandy, Dr Gilles Huberfeld (Sorbone University - GH Pitié-Salpêtrière ; Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathholog, Inserm, Collège de France) will present on : "Common mechanisms at play in glioma growth and genesis of epileptic activities" and Dr Swetlana Sirko (Institute for Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center, Munich, Germany) will present on : "Astrocyte reactivity after brain injury". Communications authored by young and talented researchers from the different neuroscience teams participing to the network will be also selected for oral presentations. Other communications will be presented as posters and enough time will be allocated for discussions and collaborations amongst participants. We are looking forward to seeing you in Rouen!

 Drs Hélène Castel and Nicolas Guérout, chairs of the organizing committee

 

 International Cognition and Cancer Task Force  meeting  - April, 11 2018 - Sidney, Australia

       The ICCTF Steering Committee has proposed to organize a specific workshop dedicated to pre-clinical models of "Cancer and Treatment-induced Cognitive Impairment (CT-ICI), animated by Ian Johnston (School of Psychology, The University of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia), Hélène Castel (Normandy University-Inserm, and the Cancer and Cognition Platform, France) and Adam Walker (Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Australia), aimed at furthering animal research in the area of cancer, cancer treatments (chemotherapy and new anti-cancer drugs/strategies) and cognition.

Part I: Overview of studies since last meeting; and review of the recommendations proposed since the 2016 ICCTF Amsterdam Animal Research Working Group (Guidelines paper). It will open dicussion on : Better animal models of CT-ICI -- Reducing duplication and redundancies -- Increasing replicabilityand comparison by standardising methods, doses, dosing schedules; cognitive and emotional tests -- Experience sharing and reporting of unsuccessful studies -- Translational studies from clinic and vise et versa.

Part II: Presentation of the different future directions : How to move the field forward? -- Developing complex and better animal models -- Improving knowledge between cognition domains and neurobiological mechanisms -- Testing of strategies of intervention (pharmacology and/or behavioral) -- Finding international grants, from bench to bed and bed to bench.

 

 National meeting on lymphomes - Cancer treatments and cognition, Plateform activities

      A l’occasion du 5^ème colloque national sur les lymphomes, qui s’est tenu à Nantes le 10 février 2018, les Drs Hélène Castel et Marie Lange ont présenté l’état des lieux sur l’impact du cancer et des traitements sur les fonctions cognitives des patients atteints de cancer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGelbvZPJk4), ainsi que les activités de la plate-forme Normande Cancer et Cognition (http://www.canceretcognition.fr/). Une table ronde a fait suite aux présentations pour échanger avec les patients et les proches touchés par la maladie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXBf__qBxUY)

 

 

Microsurgery equipment - 2017 November 

 

 

    Au mois de novembre 2017, le Géfluc Normandie et le crédit Agricole Seine ont remis officiellement à L'équipe Astrocyte et Niche Vasculaire une subvention de 16 000 euros pour l'achat d'un poste de microchirurgie dédié à la recherche de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques pour lutter contre les tumeurs du cerveau. Une visite du laboratoire et des explications sur les différentes recherches et protocoles menés par l'équipe ont pu être proposés à cette occasion.

 

 

Call for application - June 2017 Assistant Professor-Neurosciences-Rouen Normandie

 

Assistant Professor in Neurosciences-Neuro-oncology at the Normandie Rouen University

    The University of Rouen Normandie nurtures internationally strong social and economic links in the fields of energies, aeronautics, logistics, transports and mobility, cosmetology and health. It plays a major role in terms of innovation, through learning institutes, clusters and competitive hubs. The Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedicine (IRIB - FED4220) is a Federative Structure of Research regrouping all the resources of biomedical research in Haute-Normandie with the objective to develop a high-level biomedical research particularly focused on the understanding of disease physiopathology and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools thanks to the complementarities of clinicians, biologists and chemists of the Normandie Rouen University.

Tenure track as Assistant Professor in Neurosciences- Neuro-oncology

Required basic qualifications:
Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree at the time of application. French candidates must be qualified in one of the following sections: 65, Biologie cellulaire; 66, Physiologie; 69, Neurosciences.

Research

    The candidate will join the team Astrocyte and Vascular Niche within the UMR1239 INSERM, DC2N, Rouen. The general objective of the project is to tackle the glial tumor-brain interface in an original angle by developing molecular and cellular approaches and animal models, particularly by means of electrophysiological and in vivo brain imaging. The candidate must possess a solid expertise in neurophysiology, cell signaling with skills in electrophysiological techniques and/or dynamic imaging in vivo. The mastery of molecular tools to target brain/tumor cell populations will be a plus. The candidate will have free access to the local platforms and services of imaging, proteomic, genomic of IRIB federation, to the expertise of the team and of the platform Cancer and Cognition, and will benefit from the infrastructures available in the central animal facility of the UFR Sciences and Techniques.

Teaching

    The Assistant professor will teach in the field of Neurosciences and Animal Physiology, including electrophysiology and cellular and molecular neurobiology. She or he will be involved in teaching and mentoring neurosciences and physiology skills, participate to international education and exchanges with foreign researchers involved in international training, and be associated with the development of innovative teaching tools (Tice, e-Learning, etc.) and continuing education.
    The courses concerned are the "Life Sciences", in particular "Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cellular and Physiology", "Sciences for Health" and the Master "Neurosciences" in the "Neuroscience molecular, cellular and integrated" course. Involvement is expected in international thematic schools and new translational training streams.

Host Team

    The candidate will develop his work in the laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Cell Communication and Differentiation (Inserm U1239, Dir. Y. Anouar) whose research is focused on cerebral and neuroendocrine pathologies. The candidate will integrate the "Astrocyte and Vascular Niche" team (Dr. H Castel), whose work focuses on the cellular and pathophysiological mechanisms that control brain tumorigenesis (proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, resistance to treatment) and impact of cancer and/or cancer therapies on the functions of the central nervous system. The general objective of the team is to understand the determinants of the invasion of the cerebral parenchyma by glial tumor cells and to seek new therapeutic approaches by combining cellular and animal models up to clinical studies.

Contact: Dr Hélène Castel, DR2 Inserm

E-mail: : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel : 33-2-35-14-66-30
Inserm U1239
Université de Rouen Normandie
France

 

 Cancer and Cognition Platform : Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer labelling , 2016 December  

http://www.canceretcognition.fr/plateforme-labellisee/
http://www.canceretcognition.fr/participez-a-etude-ligne-plainte-cognitive/

            

 

Lumascope - 2015 November 26^th