Frederic Laumonnier PhD

Dr. Frederic's research work carried out during his Ph.D (2001-2004) led to the characterization of the first mutations associated with intellectual disability and autism, involving the SOX3, NLGN4X, PHF8, and KCNMA1 genes, which encode proteins for synapse function and transcriptional processes. These findings suggested that autism and intellectual disability could share, at least partly, common genes and biological pathways (NMDA receptor complex) although these conditions have a distinct definition.

Thereafter he moved to Seth Grant’s lab (team Genes to Cognition) at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (Hinxton, UK) to study the dynamics of proteins of the postsynaptic density complex using Live cell imaging approaches (FRAP).

He is currently the coordinator of the team "Neurogenomics and neuronal physiopathology" included in the research Unit "Imaging and Brain" (INSERM, University of Tours) in which our major scientific objectives are the identification and the functional analysis of genes involved in neurodevelopmental psychiatric (intellectual disabilities and autism) and neurodegenerative disorders (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).

He has been involved in European (Genetic and epigenetic networks in cognitive dysfunction, (www.gencodys.eu) and national projects that follow a systems biology and integrative approaches, with a focus on the genetic bases of intellectual disabilities and autism, to reveal the common molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to cognitive impairment.

His research projects are fully translational and directly interact with the departments of Clinical genetics and Child Psychiatry of the University Hospital of Tours.