Team Nathalie Dejucq-Rainsford & Frédéric Chalmel | Physiology and Physiopathology of the Uro-Genital Tract (URGENT)

Our objectives are to address major health concerns related to the urogenital tract, namely:

• the sexual dissemination of viruses, their persistence in semen and the consequences of viral infections of the urogenital tract on fertility and hormone production
• the increase of male urogenital tract abnormalities (testis cancer, hypospadias and cryptorchidism), which can lead to infertility, as well as the increase of medical consultations for ovarian deficiency
• the potential deleterious effects of anti-cancer treatments on fertility
• the poor efficacy of conventional anti-cancer drugs on kidney cancer

The team's research is organized around four axes:

• Axis 1 focuses on emerging viruses in the urogenital tract and the mechanisms underlying their persistence in semen.
• Axis 2 analyzes the impact of chemical molecules on the uro-genital tract (environmental endocrine disruptors, common analgesic drugs, anti-cancer treatments) and develops predictive toxicology approaches.
• Axis 3 studies the gene expression program within the gonads during fetal development and in adults, in order to better understand the abnormalities of the urogenital tract that can be induced by our environment.

In the frame of our researches, we are committed to the development of innovative tools in bio-informatics, cellular and molecular biology.