Seminar topic: Unravelling the molecular mechanisms of clathrin-independent endocytosis to elucidate its pathophysiological functions

After obtaining my Ph.D. in bioengineering from UCLouvain (Belgium) in 2010 under the supervision of Prof. Pierre Morsomme, I joined the Institut Curie in Paris in January 2011, where I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Ludger Johannes. In 2015, I returned to UCLouvain for a second postdoctoral period. In January 2020, I was appointed Assistant Professor in cell biology in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, at the University of Namur (UNamur), Belgium. This position enabled me to launch my own research group and to establish a state-of-the-art bioimaging platform. 

Leveraging these advanced microscopy tools, my research group focuses on the role of BAR (Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs) domain proteins in membrane remodelling during cellular processes. In particular, we investigate these mechanisms along two complementary research axes aiming at eludicating: (i) novel clathrin-independent endocytic mechanisms, and (ii) cellular responses to nanoscale environmental cues, especially through nanotopography-driven mechanosensing. Our work builds on the unique ability of BAR domain proteins to sense and/or induce membrane curvature, thereby regulating membrane deformation, vesicle formation, actin remodelling, and signal transduction. Building on our fundamental discoveries, we also aim to expand our research toward more translational directions by connecting these mechanisms to pathophysiological contexts such as cancer and host-pathogen interactions. 

In 2024, I was promoted to Professor at UNamur. Our research is supported by funding from the FNRS, the Francqui Foundation, and various institutional grants.