Metabolic Disorders

Given the increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases, obesity and diabetes worldwide, there is an urgent need to fight against this major societal burden.

The Graduate School of Metabolic Disorders is an innovative teaching program providing a broad view of these metabolism-related pathologies.

It combines teaching on: biological aspects of metabolism from the molecular mechanism to integrated physiopathology as well as stimulating reflection on the recent societal changes largely contributing to this new metabolic pandemic.

Presentation

Metabolic dysfunctions and obesity disrupt homeostasis leading to chronic inflammatory responses. Amongst the obesity devastating complications, there is the increased incidence of type-2 diabetes, which accounts for over 90 % of the diagnosed cases of diabetes and affects some 200 million people around the world. The incidence of autoimmune type 1 diabetes is also increasing worldwide and the role of the environment altering the microbiota as well as pollutants have been involved.

Diabetes is a chronic disease requiring long-term therapy to avoid complications leading to cardiovascular and renal co-morbidities. A better understanding of these pathologies is a prerequisite for the prevention as well as the development of new effective therapies to acting at different stages of metabolic diseases and their complications.

The Graduate School of Metabolic Disorders is based on: the existence of a centre of excellence in metabolism already recognised at the national and international level and develops teaching resources in symbiosis with the Laboratories of Excellence (Labex) and the University Hospital Research (RHU).

The Graduate School of Metabolic Disorders develops an ambitious and exceptional teaching program that combines:

• Basic science on metabolism (cellular, tissue and systemic energy control) in different organisms ranging from bacteria to humans.
• Pathophysiology of metabolic diseases in animal models and patients with components on: metabolic, endocrinological, immunological, neurological, genetic and epigenetic aspects, alteration of microbiota and impact of environmental factors (pollutants, stress,etc.).
• Big data analysis and artificial intelligence, for example to analyse data from the Nutrinet cohort, the Inserm RHU QUID NASH program and Microbiota in interaction with the University Chair in AI and companies such as: Dassault system, Mydiabby health care and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics with which researchers from Université Paris Cité interact. All of these programs help generate new algorithms and promote training in telemedicine and telehealth services.
• Innovative therapies (e.g. CAR Treg cells, antibodies, modified peptides, probiotics, small molecules, etc.) including interactions with biotech and bid pharma companies such as: Diabeloop, Diacurrate, Imcyse, Astrazeneca, Novo Nordisk, etc.
• Societal aspects with the impact of lifestyle changes (nutrition, physical activity, education, etc.) including meetings with patient associations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Association (AJD) and the National Collective of Obese Associations (CNAO).
• International courses (linked to the Franco-German School of Diabetology, the European Magisterium of Genetics (MED) and the Master Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases (IMI) which recruits foreign students in Master and PhD programs all partly paid by Labex Inflamex.

Contact

Faculty of Health
Agnès LEHUEN
agnes.lehuen@inserm.fr

Faculty of Sciences
Christophe MAGNAN
christophe.magnan@u-paris.fr

Research

The laboratories associated with the Graduate School of Metabolic Disorders include teams working on molecular and cellular aspects as well as integrative biology. Thus, the models studied range from cells to preclinical models (rats, rodents) through modelling and in silico approaches.

The bioinformatics resources of Université Paris Cité also allow access to numerous databases. Finally, clinical teams are also associated with the Graduate School, thus favouring cross-sectional studies from bench to bed.

Up to now, the majority of the research teams of the Graduate School of Metabolic Disorders are attached to the Institut du Diabète created by the Faculty of Health of Université Paris Cité, and the LabEx Inflamex.

Executives

• Agnès LEHUEN
  Director of Research at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
• Christophe MAGNAN
  Professor at Université Paris Cité