Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone
Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (UMR7289 – CNRS & Aix-Marseille Université)
Faculté de Médecine de la Timone, 25 Bd Jean Moulin, 13285 Marseille Cedex 05
Postdoctoral Researcher [46 months]
01/01/2023-31/12/2024 – AMU
01/02/2021-30/11/2022 – CNRS
Research group: Social Cognition and Connectomics [site]
PI: GASCÓN, Eduardo
Research activities
At the beginning of 2021 I moved to Marseille to work as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone. The main objective of my work was the development of a tool based on CRISPR/Cas9 technology to inactivate the three loci of miR-124 in specific regions of the mouse brain.
Other lines of research: Development of in vivo fluorescent microRNA reporters; Maternal care, social behaviour, microRNAs, and psychopathology.
Nature of biological samples: Mice behaviour; Mouse brain; Human cell lines (HEK 293); Bacterial culture (E. coli).
Role in experiments: Design, execution, analysis, and communication.
Additional responsibilities: SBEA (Animal Welfare Structure); EcoLab (Sustainability Initiative Committee).
Developed methodology: In vivo microRNA knockout using CRISPR/Cas9.
Improved methodology: Fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting (FANS); RNA isolation (from FANS); DNA purification (bead based; from FANS); Western blot; Stereotaxic surgery; Statistical analysis; Reagent/Waste management.
Learned methodology: General maternal care; Open field test; Novel object test; Resident-intruder test; Neutral arena; Olfactory habituation test; 3-Chamber social task; HEK 293 cell transfection; E. coli transformation; Jess Western System.
Peer-reviewed publications
- *Roura-Martínez, D., *Popa, N., Jaouen, F., Rombaut, C., Lepolard, C., Bachar, D., Borges, A., Cazorla, M., Villet, M., Moreno, S., Marie, H., Gascón, E. (2025). Combination of Cas9 and adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) enables efficient in vivo knockdown of precise miRNAs in the rodent brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2513076122
- Rombaut, C., Roura-Martínez, D., Lepolard, C., & Gascon, E. (2023). Brief and long maternal separation in C57Bl6J mice: behavioral consequences for the dam and the offspring. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 17, 1269866. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1269866International communications
- Lepolard, C., Rombaut, C., Popa, N., Beurrier, C., Jaouen, F., Borges, A., Roura-Martínez, D., Cazorla, M., Gascón, E. (07/2022; Paris). Optimized reporters uncover differences in miR-124 expression among neuronal populations in the brain. FENS Forum, FENS.Funded by ...
- miRNAs and networks of co-expressed genes associated with childhood trauma: from molecular scars to drug discovery in bipolar disorders. Agence Nationale de la Recherche. PI: GASCÓN, Eduardo.
- Investigating the role of miR-124 in hippocampal function: implications for Alzheimer disease. Fondation Recherche Alzheimer. PI: GASCÓN, Eduardo.List of items in Research experience:
2021-2024 Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone
2017-2018 UCM Toxicology
2014 Donders Institut
2011-2016 UNED Psychobiology
2008-2010 UCM Pharmacology
2004-2007 EHU Pshysiology