Team

Ganna Panasyuk, PhD, HDR

I have obtained a PhD degree in Molecular biology from the Institute of Molecular biology and Genetics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv (Ukraine, 2006). In my graduate studies I was trained in the field of major growth regulator mTOR/PI3K/S6K signalling in the lab of Valeriy Filonenko (Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Kyiv, Ukraine). It is through this graduate training and multiple collaborative visits to Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in London that my long-lasting interest in the cross-talk between metabolism and signal transduction was ignited. I continued in postdoctoral studies in the lab of Ivan Gout at University College London in UK where I have discovered the novel splice form of mTOR kinase and demonstrated its relevance for cell proliferation. In 2009, I came to France to join the lab of Mario Pende at INSERM. This postdoctoral training has shaped my scientific interest in the mechanisms of metabolic control in physiology and its implication in human disease. In 2013, I have won an INSERM tenure position following a highly competitive international recruitment procedure to develop my research program at the Institute Necker Enfants Malades in Paris. Most recently, in 2019, I have been promoted to an INSERM research director position. Today the research of my team is funded by European Research Council award, French national funding agency (ANR JCJC) and pharma (ADDMedica). I also hold a habilitation degree (HDR) from University Paris Descartes (2015) and currently I am involved in scientific mentoring programs at INEM and different French universities.



Muriel Girard, MD, PhD  

I obtained MD degree from Tours Medical School. Today, I am a practicing pediatrician in the Liver-Gastroenterology department in Necker Hospital. I am diagnosing and treating patients with severe liver disease and specializing in liver transplantation in children. I am convinced that to help these patients we must bring the molecular knowledge of the disease to their bedside. In 2011, I have obtained a PhD degree for my work on the genetic predisposition factors in rare liver diseases. I joined Ganna’s team in 2017 to develop a project aiming to unveil the genetic bases of rare liver diseases.


Catherine Caillaud, MD, PhD

I have obtained MD from Paris Descartes University followed by a certification in Genetics and Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR). Today, I teach as an Associate Professor in Genetics at Paris Descartes University and also head a diagnostic laboratory for lysosomal diseases at Necker Hospital. I am an active member of the Reference Center on Lysosomal Diseases (CRML) directed by Dr Bénédicte Héron in Paris and work in different French committees for the treatment of lysosomal diseases in France. I am a President of the Scientific Committee of the VML (Vaincre les Maladies Lysosomales) association. My basic research is focused on molecular characterization of lysosomal diseases, particularly ceroid lipofuscinoses. One of my achievements is the development of the first diagnosis methods for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses in France. Furthermore, I have directed the works on development of therapeutic methods (enzyme replacement therapy, chaperones, and mainly gene therapy) for other lysosomal disorders such as Pompe disease and Sandhoff disease. I joined Ganna’s team to contribute to a project aiming to unveil the genetic bases of lysosomal diseases with unknown etiology.


Ying Luo, PhD

I obtained my PhD degree in Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics from Nanjing medical university (China, 2015). I have worked as a senior laboratory doctor in the Medical Laboratory Center of Changning Maternity and Infant Health Hospital (Shanghai, China) since 2020. My research work focuses on the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on metabolism-related diseases and their molecular regulation mechanisms. In the past 5 years, my research was focused on the mechanism of PUFAs metabolism in chronic kidney disease, colon cancer and other diseases. Currently, I have won NSFC (National Natural Science Foundation of China) Fund to join PanasyukLab in March 2023. During my stay in MetaboSENS lab, I will be working on the role of class 3 PI3Ks on metabolic control.


Nate Henneman,  PhD student, University of Paris Cite 

I obtained my BA from Bates College (Lewiston, Maine 2016). I was trained in the field of vision research at Emory University. My previous research more specifically focused on retinal neurodegenerative disease models and how neuroprotective compounds can be used to prevent functional and morphological damage to the retina. I moved to Paris in September of 2018 to continue my studies in the form of a masters degree at University of Paris Descartes, specializing in molecular biology. In 2019, I have been awarded the MSc degree for my thesis work conducted in Ganna’s team and this allowed me to win the PhD fellowship to continue with my postgraduate studies. I am embarking on the PhD project that aims to discover novel metabolic functions of class 3 PI3K signalling.


Edouard Le Guillou, PharmD, PhD student


I have obtained a PharmD degree from Paris Sud University and currently I’m finishing my Medical biology residency in Paris University at Necker Hospital campus. I have obtained a MSc degree in Cell Biology at University Pierre and Marie Curie defending the thesis project entitled "Mitochondrial dysfunctions in foam cells induced by LDL-cholesterol overload" developed in the lab of Prof. Patrice Therond under the mentorship of Dr. Pauline Gaignard and Dr. Pierre-Hadrien Becker. During my master training I have discovered that cholesterol overload of macrophages in presence of oxidized LDL leads to a mitochondrial oxidative stress with ROS production and glutathione consumption, which is highly relevant to understand the energetic mitochondrial dysfunction in foam cells during atherosclerosis. This first-hand experience in the lab fueled further my passion for translational research. I’m now resident in the Metabolomic and proteomic biochemistry department in Necker Hospital headed by Prof. Robert Barouki. The mission of our clinical department is to provide rapid and reliable diagnostics using state of the art biochemical approaches such as LC-MS/MS metabolomic analyses to the patients suffering from inborn errors of metabolism. I am working hand in hand with Dr. Catherine Caillaud to perfect the diagnostics of severe and still mechanistically largely enigmatic diseases of lysosomal dysfunction also known as lysosomal storage diseases. I have joined Ganna’s team at INEM to develop the PhD thesis project that will combine my three passions: metabolic biochemistry, rare metabolic diseases and signal transduction mechanisms. In my work, I aim to discover yet unknown facets of class III PI3K function at lysosome, it crosstalks with other nutrient sensing pathways in physiology and its implication in lysosomal storage diseases.


Alexis Gadault, Project Engineer


I was graduated in 2016 from the University Paris Diderot with a MSc degree in cellular biology. It was preceded by studies in BTS (Biomedical Analysis) and Licence (Biomedical Research) at ESTBA in Paris. During my undergraduate studies, I did laboratory trainings which ignited my interest in translational research in the domain of immunology. That is why after graduation, as my first job as assistant engineer, I have joined the team of Immunology of Diabetes (Cochin Institute, Paris) where during two years I was instrumental in developing and characterisation of humanised mouse model of type 1 diabetes. Work on this project further matured my interest in biomedical research when we aim to understand the biological processes at molecular level to develop new therapies. I enjoy working as an engineer in a team of researchers as it presents me with the opportunities to contribute to different projects by establishing new techniques, tools and models. I particularly like to integrate data from different approaches that allow developing a better understanding of cellular functions or pathways. So far, I had a great experience with an autoimmune disease and I am looking forward to widen my professional horizons. With this in mind I have joined Ganna's Team to work on a new project that aims to decipher if and how defects in class 3 PI3K signalling in liver manifest in human disease. I am looking forward to apply my expertise in this team and, of course, to growth further professionally.


Arianna Segaloni, Project Engineer

I have obtained my MSc degree in biology at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy) in November 2021 with the project entitled “The epigenetic regulators SUV420H in sexual dimorphism in adipose tissue and obesity” developed in the lab of Dr. Davide Gabellini under the supervision of Dr. Simona Pedrotti at San Raffaele Scientific Institute (Italy). In my 1-year internship, I studied the role of the epigenetic regulators SUV420H in adipose tissue to understand if SUV420H and PPAR-γ expression inversely correlate in obese patients. This training helped me to develop professionals’ skills and to better understand the link between epigenetics and metabolic disease. During my studies, I followed Metabolic Disease classes which have been a great source of inspiration for me. From January 2022 I will join the Panasyuk lab as a project engineer. I am looking forward to contributing with my expertise to this team and enhancing my knowledge and my techniques.


Daryna Batechko, MSc trainee

I finished my BSc in the field of Molecular Biology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. I was trained in the field of human genetics and genetic engineering at the Institute of Molecular biology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Currently, I am obtaining my MSc at the Learning Planet Institute at the University of Paris Cite, studying an interdisciplinary approach to life science. Before joining Ganna's team I had an internship at the Institute Pasteur under the supervision of Dr Han Li. My research there focused on senescence-induced muscle regeneration and understanding its genetic basis. I joined Ganna's team in November 2022 for a 3-months internship. My project here will focus on novel roles of class 3 PI3K for assuring metabolic activities. I will conduct screening and validation of the metabolic signals that could rescue the proliferation defects of cells depleted of class 3 PI3K. I am looking forward to this exciting 3-months training!


Artem Degtiar, Summer Trainee

I am currently pursuing a BSc in Immunology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, and a BSc in Biotechnology at Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. During my studies I had a voluntary traineeship at O. Piven lab where I learned molecular biology approaches to reprogram fibroblast into cardiomyocytes. Additionally, under the supervision of A. Zholos, I conducted research and published a bioinformatics poster on "Molecular Docking of Englerin A as a Direct TRPC4 Channel Agonist." In Lithuania, I wrote two bachelor's theses papers in the VDU bioanalytical lab, focusing on oxygenase inhibition by natural polyphenols and comparison of delivery platforms for gene therapy in the intestine, which resulted in two published posters. Starting from October 2023, I am going to pursue my MSc training at the Learning Planet Institute at the University of Paris Cité, through an interdisciplinary approach to life sciences. In July 2023, I joined PanasyukLab as a two-month Erasmus trainee. Here I focus on learning new methodology of eukaryotic cell culture, transcriptional and protein expression analyses by participating to the project on the role of class 3 PI3K’s role in transcriptional regulation.


Alumni 

2023


Alban Doinel, Project Engineer

I graduated in 2019 with an MSc degree on signalization and integrated systems in biology at the EPHE (PSL) in Paris. I had been attracted by molecular biology and neurosciences since high school, which is why I decided to specialize in those fields during my MSc studies. It allowed me to explore multiple projects in different laboratories. I enjoyed a lot taking part of the project on identification of novel mutations in cases of hereditary spastic paraplegia in the lab of Dr. Giovanni Stevanin at the Brain and Spine Institute in Paris. In my MSc rotation I have also had the taste of more fundamental project in the lab of Dr. Claire Wyart, also at the Brain and Spine Institute in Paris, where I focused on axial morphogenesis in zebrafishes deprived of Reissner’s fiber. After graduating, I decided to develop further my pedagogical skills by teaching biology, biochemistry and biotechnologies to laboratory students in a high school for two years. This formatting experience reinforced my will to continue both learning and sharing knowledge through science and education. This mindset and my interest for metabolism, genetics and cell signaling led me to join the PanasyukLab with the goal of sharpening my lab research skills while contributing to multiple on-going projects in the team as an Engineer. This will help me develop my scientific knowledge for a possible future PhD with the prospect of becoming teacher-researcher.


Yui Shibayama, MD, PhD Postdoc

I have obtained my MD degree from Asahikawa medical university (Japan). I have been trained as an endocrinologist and a diabetologist. I did some clinical researches especially in the adrenal diseases field. During this period, I got interested in the relationship of steroid hormones with metabolic diseases and I initiated my basic research focused on molecular mechanisms of obesity and metabolic diseases regulated by steroid hormones. I have won JSPS (Japan society for the promotion of science) research fellowship for young scientist and I had an opportunity to join Ganna’s team in 2021. During my stay in MetaboSENS lab I would like to inquire into potential crosstalk between two fascinating signalling hubs of steroid hormones and class 3 PI3K and their contribution to metabolic control.


2022


Anthony Ficany, MSc trainee

Starting from this fall I will join the Panasyuk Lab as final year MSc trainee. I have obtained the PharmD degree from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), Lebanon. I always had the desire to pursue a career in research, and I was especially interested in the crosstalk between signal transduction pathways and control of cellular metabolism. During my last year in Pharmacy, I have completed my first year of MSc specialising in Clinical biochemistry, Molecular genetics, and therapeutic targets. In frame of these studies, I did my first two-month lab training under the mentorship of Pr. Marianne ABI FADEL, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Head of the Laboratory of biochemistry and molecular therapeutics. During this lab initiation I contributed to the work on ANGPTL3 as a novel therapeutic target in dyslipidaemias and I learned various basic molecular biology techniques under the supervision of Dr. Petra EL Khoury. Starting from September 2021, I will continue in my second year MSc in France, at University of Paris and will join the PanasyukLab for six months to develop the MSc thesis project. I am looking forward to learn more about class 3 PI3K and to shed new light on its role in metabolic diseases.

Clara Goetz, Project Engineer

I graduated in 2018 with a MSc in Cell and Molecular biology from Sorbonne University. During my studies I learned about a wide range of fields in life sciences, several for which I have developed a particular interest such as immunology, microbiology or biochemistry and metabolism. During the first year of my Masters, I did a research placement under the supervision of Dr. Hodson within the University of Cambridge (UK) where I developed an experimental method to assess the impact of two RNA-binding proteins on the progression of Diffuse Large B-Cell lymphoma. I also did a research placement during my final year at Kymab, a company developing therapeutic antibodies. Both these trainings further developed my interest for immunology, which is why I joined Claude-Agnès Reynaud and Jean-Claude Weill’s lab within INEM in 2019 as a project engineer. There, I worked on two different projects studying T-independent B-cell response and long-term memory B-cell. I find that one of the main advantages of being an engineer is that I have the opportunity to be involved in projects and to gain scientific knowledge from various study fields. That is why after two fulfilling years in the Reynaud-Weill lab I am happy to be joining Ganna’s lab and I look forward to not only expand my set of technical skills but also to broaden my scientific horizons by learning more.

Chantal Alkhoury, PhD student, supported by FRM

I obtained my MSc degree in cell biology at UPMC. It is during my MSc internship in lab of Francois Rouyer that I was awestruck by the knowledge-gaining powers of genetic models. During this training that I have got the first taste of organismal complexity and the supremacy of biological clocks assuring organismal homeostasis. In 2016, I have joined the team of Ganna to develop a PhD project under her mentorship in which I aim to unravel the complexity of class 3 pI3K signalling in metabolic control in liver.

Konstantina Antoniadou, Project Engineer


I have obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology in 2018 from University of Crete. During my undergraduate studies I completed a 1-year internship in the laboratory of Embryology under the supervision of Dr. Nikitovic. There, I developed an independent project studying the role of biglycan in osteosarcoma cell proliferation and IGF-1 signaling pathway. After graduation, with support of the Erasmus program, I have moved to France for 1-year internship at the Gustave Roussy Institute in the lab headed by Dr. Khaled. During this training, I investigated the mechanisms of immune checkpoint regulation in melanoma. I Entirely enjoyed
my training in France, so I continued in graduate studies and in 2019 I was awarded with a Master in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Sorbonne University. I have completed my master thesis in Stress and Cancer laboratory headed by Dr. Mechta-Grigoriou at Institut Curie. During my 6-month internship, which was supervised by Dr. Mieulet, I studied the translational landscape of MAP3K8/MEK signaling pathway in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. Altogether, my multiple training in different institutes and countries exposed me to various cultures and have helped me to acquire theoretical and experimental knowledge to meet the demands of becoming a research engineer in Ganna’s team. I am looking forward to contribute to different projects that aim to decipher the complexity of class 3 PI3K signalling in metabolic control.


2021


Marco Hatem Vaquero, PharmD, PhD, Postdoctoral researcher

I obtained my PhD degree in Biomedical Science from University of Alcala de Henares (Spain). My work was mainly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that coordinate whole-body glucose and lipid metabolism, involving intra and inter-tissue communication, and the implications of their dysregulation in disease. During this period, I was also part of an emerging biotechnology company, allowing me to collaborate in different projects aimed to find potential applications of new iomaterials in health and medicine. All these experiences and my previous academic training as a pharmacist encouraged me to continue developing my career in translational  research. I joined Ganna’s team in 2020 to contribute to understanding the role of class 3 PI3K signalling in liver metabolism and the consequences of its dysfunction in rare human metabolic diseases.

Bérengère Lemestre, Summer Trainee

I am a third-year medical student at the Universite de Paris. For the past two years, I have been part of the Medicine-Science double degree, a selective program which aims to introduce medical students to the world of research. After choosing to specialize in cell signalling pathways and gene regulation in my classes, this first professional experience in the Panasyuk Lab is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about these exciting processes, and to put my hitherto theoretical knowledge of different techniques in practice. During this internship, I am looking forwards to learning about novel facets of class 3 PI3K signalling in controlling cellular metabolism. In the upcoming three months I will discover and apply different techniques to characterise nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling of class 3 PI3K that will open up to functional experiments on its novel cellular functions. In the future, I plan to integrate a master program on cellular biology and development, with the hope of later working as both a medical professional and a researcher. I am also keen gardener and aim to grow fully organic wild strawberries on the window of our lab office (they are already making nice bushes!) 


2020

 

Ines Partouche, EBSTA Trainee

 I have obtained my diploma in Bioanalysis and Control in 2019 from the University of Salliège, Toulouse. It is during my undergraduate studies, when I have worked on the project that focussed on cachexia during breast cancer disease, that I was exposed to the research world for the first time. This experience has inspired me to continue in professional training in the field of biomedical research. To follow my dream, I have enrolled at renowned ESTBA school in Paris as a third year Bachelor student. I am excited to join the team of Dr.Panasyuk at INEM Institute as this training represents an excellent opportunity for me to work in the international environment with scientists of different levels and to learn diverse techniques. During my 9-month lab training, I aim to establish the portfolio of tools to study the class 3 PI3K signalling in plants! I am looking forward to convert my theoretical knowledge into practice by exchanging ideas and solving scientific problems. In future, I plan to continue my undergraduate studies to obtain MSc degree and I believe this training represents an essential step in my formation as future researcher.

Alioune Fall, Master student, Sorbonne University

I have obtained my degree in pharmacology at Clermont Ferrand University 1 in 2014. Next, I took some time off my studies and for four following years I have been engaged full time in a disability aid association. In 2018, I have integrated Paris-Est Créteil University to continue my undergraduate studies and from which I have obtained the M1 diploma with honours in 2019. It was during my M1 internship on genetic editing by CRISPR-CAS9 that I took the full measure of the importance and power of genetics and its tools to dissect complex biological problems. In 2019, I joined the laboratory of Ganna as part of my internship in my Master 2 genetic and epigenetics of the Sorbonne University. I am looking forward to contribute to a project that aims to understand the involvement of class 3 PI3K in human liver diseases.


2019


Anton Iershov, PhD, MSC Fellow, Campus de France PRESTIGE grant

I obtained my PhD degree from Institute of Molecular biology and Genetics of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv (Ukraine, 2016). I was trained in the field of cancer signalling and focussed on the molecular mechanisms of glioma. In my work I love combining the experimenting on the bench and computational approaches. Keen to pursuit my postgraduate training, I moved to France in 2017 to join the team of Ganna as MSC Fellow to develop the postdoctoral project that aims to discover novel functions of class 3 PI3k signalling in control of cellular catabolism.

Alexandre Quesnoy, undergraduate trainee
I have joined Ganna’s team for a 2-month internship. I am a 2nd year engineer student in biotechnology at Sup’Biotech, Paris. I have a great interest in learning more about metabolism and signaling pathways as I consider working in this domain in future. Having been taught only general subjects at my school, I am looking forward to apply my theoretical knowledge of different techniques and learn more about biological processes in practice during this first professional experience. Upcoming two months, I will work with all members of the team and will learn in depth about their subjects. I am motivated to get familiar with as many as possible techniques that we use in the lab and to get firsthand experience about day-to-day life of the researchers.


2018

Edward Chalouhi, Master student, University Pierre and Marie Curie

I obtained my Biochemistry degree at Lebanese University and in 2017 I have moved to Paris to continue with my master studies. Today, I am pursuing my MSc training in Cell Biology at University Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) specialising in cell biology and signalling. In the team of Ganna I am passionate to learn about how class 3 PI3K controls lysosomal function. 

Camille Streiff, Master student, Diderot University

I am a 4th year medical student in Strasbourg Medical School. My ambition is to become a medical doctor-researcher. In 2017, I have moved to Paris and was accepted to highly competitive Master programme in Genetics at Diderot University. In Ganna’s team I am developing the project in which I aim to discover the genetic alterations in class 3 PI3K in human disease.

Sylvia MIRANDA, technicien trainee (ESTBA)


I am a last year laboratory engineer student at ESTBA. In 2017, I have joined the team of Ganna for a 6-month laboratory internship. I am teamed-up with all members and contribute to all on-going projects. I love working with mouse models and today my favourite technique is immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. I am looking forward to every week to learn new aspects of class 3 PI3K biology. 


Postdocs: Ivan Nemazanyy, current position: SFR-Necker Facility for metabolic analyses, Head (tenure)


PhD students: Cecilia Patitucci (PhD with honours, 2016), current position: postdoctoral researcher, Pasteur Institute, France

MSc students:

2017

Herve Abissa Kouakou (ESTBA)

Alix THOMAS (MSc, L’Université Paris Diderot-Paris 7)

Paola Guadagnuolo (Msc, L’Université Paris Diderot)

Ikram CHAHMI-GHEIDENE (M1, UPMC)

Anne-Cecile CHODKIEWIEZ (M1, UVSQ)

2016

Jeffie Lafosse (M1, UVSQ)

Martin Mathurin (M1, BCPP Paris Diderot)

Aissata Niasse (M1, UVSQ, M1)

2015

Julien Dorival (M1, UVSQ)

Salimata Magassa (M1, UPMC)

2014

Frank Ling (M2, UPMC)