Professional Qualifications

• Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR), University Bordeaux 2, France
• PhD in Chemical and Biological Sciences for Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Montpellier 1, France
• MSc in Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Bordeaux 2, France
• BSc in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry/Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University Bordeaux 2, France

Senior Research Fellow/Research Fellow, University of East Anglia, UK (2011-2023); Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Reading, UK (2008-2011) (BBSRC Fellowship); Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Reading, UK (2005-2008) (MRC Fellowship)

• Neurodegenerative disorders
• Phytochemicals
• Neuroinflammation
• Memory, learning and neuro-cognitive performances
• Molecular mechanisms
• Association between the APOE4 genotype and chronic disease risk
• Microbiota Gut-Brain axis

My research is primarily focused on cellular and molecular biochemistry, neuropharmacology, and nutrition, with a particular emphasis on the diet–gut microbiome–brain axis. This is supported by a substantial body of high-quality research output. My main scientific interests converge on three interrelated domains within the biomedical sciences: (1) elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which gut-derived metabolites influence both normal and pathological ageing, including Alzheimer’s disease; (2) developing nutritional strategies to delay cognitive decline by modulating the gut–brain axis; and (3) investigating the etiological underpinnings of APOE genotype–disease associations and how this common genotype modulates responses to dietary interventions via alterations in the gut microbiome–brain axis.

Using a variety of experimental models, including rodent models of age-related cognitive decline and human dietary intervention studies, my work has advanced our understanding of how age-associated microbiota shifts affect central nervous system function. These findings underscore the critical role of the gut–brain axis in ageing and provide a compelling rationale for interventions aimed at restoring microbiota to enhance cognitive function and quality of life in the elderly. Additionally, my group explores dietary strategies—including the use of phytochemicals and specific dietary patterns—to support memory, improve neurocognitive performance, and slow Alzheimer’s disease progression. This research is highly translational and aligns with emerging paradigms in personalised approaches to disease prevention and therapeutic development.