Our research focuses on the biological foundations of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), integrating both clinical and animal modeling approaches. We are a research team of hospital-university clinicians and hospital engineers with strong ties to the genetic activity within our University Hospital (CHU). Our team is a founding member of the Regional “Centre d’Excellence Autisme-Nouvelle-Aquitaine”, and a founding member of the National “GIS Autisme et Maladies Neurodéveloppementales”.

Our research priorities target three interconnected and clinically relevant dimensions:

• Motor Disorders in ASD: We investigatemotor and gait impairments in ASD as early, objective and quantifiable diagnostic markers of the condition, with the potential to ameliorate early diagnosis and intervention strategies.
• Epigenetic Signatures in ASD: We investigate the epigenetic signatures associated with ASD, particularly following prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy. This should help (i) provide a biological diagnostic tool linked to this exposure and (ii) elucidate how environmental factors during pregnancy may contribute to ASD risk and phenotype.
• Cerebellar Degeneration and ASD-Like Symptoms: we explore the functional and structural links between cerebellar degeneration and the emergence of ASD-like symptoms, to uncover novel mechanistic pathways and therapeutic targets.

Grants : FRM, Région Nouvelle Aquitaine, FYSSEN, CPER-FEDER programs, Mission interministérielle pour le handicap, Fondation de l’Avenir, Fondation Alienor.

• Peer-reviewed Articles
• Reviews, Book Chapters and comments
• Oral Communications
• Posters