Dr. Michèle Crozatier is a senior scientist (DR1-CNRS) at the Centre de Biologie Intégrative, University of Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, France. She co-leads the research group “Hematopoiesis and Immune Response in Drosophila” and is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in developmental biology and genetics. With over three decades of experience, she has significantly advanced the understanding of blood cell development, immune response, and stem cell regulation using Drosophila as a model organism. Her work integrates molecular biology, immunology, and stem cell niche dynamics, positioning her as a leader in integrative biomedical research.
Dr MICHELE CROZATIER, MCD/CBI /University Toulouse, France
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🎓 Education
Dr. Michèle Crozatier earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 1987 from the University of Clermont-Ferrand II, France 🎓🧬. She later received her HDR (Habilitation to Direct Research) in 2002 from the University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse III, where she has since been a leading figure in developmental biology education and research 🧫📘. Her academic training laid the foundation for decades of innovation in stem cell biology, genetics, and hematopoiesis research 🔬🧠. Dr. Crozatier’s prestigious academic credentials reflect her long-standing commitment to scientific excellence and interdisciplinary education in life sciences 📚🌍.
🏛️ Experience
Dr. Michèle Crozatier is a senior research director (DR1-CNRS) at the Centre de Biologie Intégrative, CNRS–University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse 🏛️🔬. Since 2021, she has co-led the research group “Hematopoiesis and Immune Response in Drosophila” 🧬🦟. With a career spanning over three decades, she has held roles from postdoctoral researcher at the Netherlands Cancer Institute 🧫 to group leader and platform coordinator at CNRS Toulouse 🔍👩🔬. Her contributions to developmental genetics, immune signaling, and stem cell biology have shaped Drosophila research across Europe and inspired innovation in immunology and niche biology globally 🌍🧠.
🔍 Grant-Funded Research
Dr. Michèle Crozatier has led and collaborated on multiple prestigious research projects exploring Drosophila hematopoiesis and immune regulation 🧬🦠. Her ANR and FRM-funded projects investigated niche-stem cell interactions, vascular influences on blood cell formation, and the microenvironmental control of hematopoiesis under stress 🔍🩸🌱. Supported by agencies like ANR, FRM, and Ligue contre le Cancer, her work utilizes Drosophila as a model to uncover principles relevant to mammalian systems 🧪🧫. These studies bridge developmental biology and immunology, offering key insights into how stem cells respond to signals and environmental changes under physiological and pathological conditions 🧠⚙️.
🏆 Scientific Contribution
Dr. Michèle Crozatier has an impressive scientific record with 54 publications, including 10 invited reviews 📝📚. Since 2007, she has authored 20 original research papers, with 10 as last and corresponding author, reflecting her leadership in the field 🧬🔬. Her research contributions focus on hematopoiesis, stem cell regulation, and immune responses using Drosophila as a model organism 🧫🦠. Her work, featured in top journals like Nature, PNAS, and eLife, has deepened understanding of niche signaling and developmental genetics 🧠🌱. Dr. Crozatier’s output reflects a sustained and influential role in life science research globally 🌍🏆.
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Michèle Crozatier’s research centers on developmental biology, with a specific focus on hematopoiesis, stem cell regulation, cell signaling, and genetic control mechanisms 🧬🔬🧫. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism 🪰, her work explores how blood cells are formed, maintained, and influenced by their microenvironment. She investigates the interplay between stem cells and their niches, uncovering how external and internal signals govern immune cell differentiation and response 💉🧠. Her studies provide valuable insights into fundamental biological processes with implications for understanding human health, immune disorders, and regenerative medicine 🌍.
📚 Publications
Hematopoietic progenitor maintenance depends on their direct contacts with the niche
Authors: Tian Y., Morin-Poulard I., Liu X., Vanzo N., Crozatier M.*
Journal: PNAS, 2023, Vol. 120, No. 18, e2217862120
The Drosophila lymph gland acts as a hematopoietic organ and is a model to study blood cell development
Authors: Destalminil-Letourneau M., Morin-Poulard I., Tian Y., Vanzo N., Crozatier M.*
Journal: eLife, 2021; 10:e64672
Immune stress triggers hematopoietic progenitor plasticity and niche remodeling in Drosophila
Authors: Morin-Poulard I., Tian Y., Vanzo N., Crozatier M.*
Journal: Frontiers in Immunology, 2021; 12:719349
Drosophila model for studying the vascular control of hematopoiesis
Authors: Louradour I., Sharma A., Morin-Poulard I., Letourneau M., Vincent A., Crozatier M., Vanzo N.
Journal: eLife, 2017; e25496
Reactive oxygen species control blood progenitor cell fate via regulation of niche signals
Authors: Morin-Poulard I., Sharma A., Louradour I., Vanzo N., Vincent A., Crozatier M.*
Journal: Nature Communications, 2016; 7:11634
Drosophila hematopoiesis under immune challenge
Authors: Oyallon J., Vanzo N., Krzelien J., Morin-Poulard I., Vincent A., Crozatier M.*
Journal: PLoS One, 2016; 11(2):e0148978
Notch and Dpp signaling pathways cooperate to maintain hematopoietic progenitors
Authors: Pennetier D., Oyallon J., Morin-Poulard I., Dejean S., Vincent A., Crozatier M.*
Journal: PNAS, 2012; 109(9): 3389