What is your hometown?
Strasbourg, France
When did you join the UI faculty?
2001.
How/when did you become interested in science?
I always enjoyed science in high school. I was already a "hands-on" person, as labs (dissection, chemistry, electricity) were always more fun than didactic classes. At the age of 15, we had orientation sessions. Although I had an interest in medicine, I did not want to be like my dad (who is a retired neuropsychiatrist). I listened to the people talking about pharmacy and became interested. In France, pharmacy is a graduate school like medicine. Unlike here, pharmacies are independent stores, and almost no drugs are available over the counter. Pharmacists are not counting pills; they are considered health specialists to whom patients can go freely and ask advice at the same time they are getting their prescriptions.
What inspired you to pursue a career in research? What is it about dermatologic research that interests you most?
I got into pharmacy school, and my goal was to work in a cosmetics company. So the first two summers of school, I worked in the organic chemistry department at Dow Chemical, synthesizing new chemicals for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. This gave me a strong taste for discovery. Then, to convince myself that cosmetics was my path, I worked for three months in a cosmetics company in Paris (RoC). Those three months were an eye opener. I realized that it would be very boring to design facial creams and lipsticks for the rest of my life. However, I was fascinated by how the products worked and how we could determine the effects of cosmetics applied on people or animals' skin. This is when I decided to pursue a career in dermatologic research.
Since then, I have been fascinated by the skin, which is not just the envelope protecting us from the surroundings, but is "what is the deepest in man" (Paul Valery, French poet). Understanding how the skin continuously renews itself (via stem cells) or how we can use the skin cells to treat patients has been two of my main interests.
Please describe your professional interests.
The use of epidermal cells and stem cells as cell-based therapy for the treatment of ischemia and perivascular disease.
Please describe your research with (adult) stem cells. Do you feel that embryonic or adult stem cell research has the potential to lead to new therapies?
My research focuses on stem cells from the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin and the one in contact with the ambient air. We are working with ischemia, a condition in which the tissue has a low level of oxygen and low blood flow. This condition is very common in diabetic patients, individuals with perivascular disease and patients suffering from myocardial infarction. We recently discovered that when we injected our adult stem cells into the ischemic limb muscle of a mouse, they improved the restoration of the blood flow. In other words, a mouse injected with the epidermal stem cells runs around in its cage normally after 12 days, whereas a control animal is still limping and has blue toes. We are now trying to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in this observation.
Of course, our experiments are still at the level of the animal model. But translated to a patient, it would mean that we could take his own epidermal cells, isolate the stem cells, and inject them in areas with low blood flow to help the revascularization. This is potentially very promising, as the skin is very easy to access and a plentiful source of stem cells.
To answer your question about the potential of stem cells as new therapy: Yes, I believe that both embryonic and adult stem cells, whether directly or indirectly, will lead to new therapies. Our research illustrates what could be cell therapies in the near future.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?
I was privileged to work with a number of excellent people and each participated in shaping my research career. In particular, Philippe André trusted me and gave me my first research project. Later on, Beverly Dale, a pioneer female skin biologist, provided generous advice and encouragement, and she still does frequently.
How or why did you choose the UI?
I was finishing my postdoctoral training in Seattle and heard that Jackie Bickenbach (UI associate professor of anatomy and cell biology) needed a stem cell biologist. My husband and I were ready to move into a smaller town and, he being from Waterloo, welcomed the idea of living in Iowa City. He knew the reputation of the UI (I had only be in the United States for three years) and was supportive of us moving back to his home state. I worked with Jackie for two years before having my current position.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
The UI is a very interactive environment with good relations between faculty colleagues. The friendly environment and the fact that the number of faculty is kept at a low profile facilitate cross-departmental collaborations. The major challenge relates to the pressure to secure external funding, especially for young investigators in small clinical departments.
Please share your thoughts/perspective on how laboratory research discoveries impact the clinical practice of medicine.
Basic science is the foundation of research discoveries that govern new clinical practice. Therefore, it is at the heart of new treatments for our children's generation. Unfortunately, it seems that people forget about it too often.
How do you stay abreast of changes in scientific discovery and incorporate these changes into your research? Is there a particular source of information (such as a journal, professional meeting or association, etc.) that you find invaluable in your work?
Multiple sources of information are key to scientists to keep current: meetings, scientific journals (and "thank you" for all the online subscriptions available at the UI) and, maybe as important, coffee talks and informal discussions with colleagues.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
This may be ironic, but science is neither my life nor a lifestyle, as some scientists tend to believe. Although I am fascinated by science, science is only my job. There are other things that I enjoy doing besides work. So, I try to balance my work life and family life. I try to do my best, and be the best person to everyone. And if things don't work out, I tell myself I’ll do something else.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Money. Everything is about money -- how much we bring home at the end of the month, how much we bring from outside sources at work, how big a car we have, how big the house is, etc. In other words, life has become superficial. After each of my trips in Second and Third World countries, I get upset about our materialist society. We have forgotten about real values. We have forgotten how to recognize, respect and esteem good human beings, good teachers, good mentors and good individuals, each of whom contributes to make our lives better.
What one piece of advice you would give to students interested in a career in research?
This is a difficult career, but if you are passionate about it, it is rewarding.
What are some of your outside interests?
Too many! I enjoy playing with my children, biking (to work or for fun in the area), and any outdoor activities. I love to travel, discover new places, and I never leave without my camera. I love to knit or make jewelry, and play piano if time allows.
President Skorton named 2005 as the "Year of Public Engagement." Please share your involvement in any efforts to reach the greater Iowa public.
I am president of the board of Alice’s Rainbow Child Care Center. This position has taken a lot of my time recently, as the center is facing housing problems. Much of my effort has been to gather support to leave the center at its campus location and promote quality daycare at the University.