Ophélie Dufrancais and Marie Rebeaud receive MINERVA trophies from the F•INICIATIVAS Foundation
Ophélie Dufrançais is currently a 4th year PhD student in the team “Phagocyte architecture and dynamics” under the supervision of Drs. Christel Vérollet and Brigitte Raynaud-Messina with a grant from the Fondation ARC. Her thesis work aims to decipher the mechanisms of osteoclast fusion and bone remodeling activity, in physiological and ageing contexts. In particular, she identified moesin as a key player in ostoclastogenesis via the regulation of the dynamics of tunneling nanotubes.
Ophélie Dufrançais was awarded the MINERVA Trophy in Biological Sciences for the excellence of her project.
Marie Rebeaud is currently a 3rd year PhD student in the team “Microenvironment, Cancer and Adipocytes” under the supervision of Dr. Frédérique Fallone and Prof. Catherine Muller-Staumont with a grant from the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer. Her thesis work aims to decipher the metabolic crosstalk between tumor-surrounding adipocytes and the deadliest form of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer. Marie Rebeaud was awarded the MINERVA Trophy in Biological Sciences.
In addition to the excellence of her project, the jury highlighted her career path by awarding her the special prize for professional reconversion. Indeed, Marie interrupted her studies for 4 years after her first year of bachelor degree, during which she had a professional activity. Motivated by science, she returned to the University to complete her studies.