Responsibilities and duties
Management of the labs and research platforms, scientific supplies, experimental developments, quality management.
Skills
BIO-TOX Platform: Nanoparticles physico-chemical characterization (size and zeta potentiel, dispersion, etc.); Cell culture and biological activity evaluation (cytotoxicity, pro-inflammatory response, oxidative stress), models for in silico prediction of toxicity, cell cultures exposure (Air Liquid Interface or cloud exposure with VITROCELL); Nanoparticles detection in biological samples of different matrix (liquids or tissues), separation protocols (ultra-centrifugation, sample preparation for Inductively Coupled Plasma spectrometry analysis).
AEROSOL Platform: Aerosol generation (medical nebulizing systems : jet, mesh, acoustic airflow) and characterization (cascade impactors, aerosol output and expelled fraction); Aerosol deposition studies with different tracers (drugs, radiotracer) in 3D anatomical models of the Human cast (adult or pediatric, healthy or pathological); Respiratory tract model using ex vivo porcine lungs, nasal, buccal or naso-buccal aerosol administration; Bioaerosol; E-cigarette (aerosol features and nicotine delivery).
Languages spoken: French and English.
Animal Experiment Training (Level 1) in June 2013.
Specific software: GraphPad, resources and scientific databases (Endnote / Zotero), Image J, Solidworks.
Biography
Lara LECLERC graduated as a biologist in 2008 from the Jean Monnet University and defended her PhD in 2011 at Mines Saint-Etienne. She improved her experience with 2 post-doc positions, in Jean Monnet University and in French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). She was recruited in 2016 as a research engineer at the Centre for Biomedical and Healthcare Engineering of Mines Saint-Étienne and at the U1059 Inserm.
Her fields of interest cover part of biology (in vitro, ex vivo), nanotoxicology, inhaled particles and aerosol including the understanding of inhaled nanoparticles fate within the organism to highlight biotoxicity, biodistribution and biopersistance of (nano) particles in living systems. Her field of expertise is anatomic and cell targets of aerosol, physico-chemistry of nanoparticles and in vitro analysis of biological effects.
Within the “Biomaterials and Inhaled Particles” department (BioPI), she takes part in the team’s work with the aim to address in innovative fashion research questions on particle inhalation, from fundamental approaches to clinical applications, including pre-clinical studies and technological developments. Thus, she participates in various industrial contracts and research projects by carrying out development of experimental activities. She is one of the possible interlocutors when it comes to setting up technology transfers linked to the results of the BioPI department. She also supervised students during their internship.
Research topics
Particle Inhalation, Nanoparticle, Nanotoxicology, Mineralopathology in Human Clinical Samples, Aerosol Therapy.
Education
2011 PhD in Biology and Engineering, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines (ENSM), Saint-Etienne (France)
2008 Research Master II Biology and Biophotonics, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne (France)
2007 Science Master I in Molecular and Cellular Biology / Oncology, Claude Bernard University, Lyon1 (France)
2006 Licence of Organisms Biology, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Etienne (France)