Sara Martinez de Lizarrondo, PhD
Research scientist
smartinez@cyceron.fr
Dr. Sara Martinez de Lizarrondo is completed her European PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Navarra (Spain), where she worked on the role of matrix proteases in immunothrombosis and stroke. She joined the PhIND laboratory in 2011, where she focused on the fibrinolytic and hemostatic roles of extracellular vesicles, leading to the development of new technologies and therapeutic approaches for hemorrhagic stroke. She received the Young Talent of L’Oréal-Unesco FWIS for her work in 2014. She then actively contributed to the demonstration of the thrombolytic effect of N-Acetylcysteine by cleavage of von Willebrand Factor multimers in ischemic stroke. She now leads several research axes on immuno-imaging of endothelial activation using biodegradable probes.
Maxime Gauberti, PhD, MD
Research scientist
gauberti@cyceron.fr
Dr. Maxime Gauberti is the Deputy director of the team “tPA and Neurovascular Disorder” in the PhIND lab, and a former student of the French national MD-PhD program “Ecole de l’INSERM Liliane Bettencourt”. After a PhD in Molecular and Cellular biology and an MD in Radiology at the university of Caen Normandy, he specialized in interventional neuroradiology. He has been working for several years on new thrombolytic strategies for ischemic stroke and on the imaging of the glymphatic system. His research now focuses on new imaging and theranostic approaches for neurovascular disorders.
Thomas Bonnard, PhD
Research scientist bonnard@cyceron.fr
Dr. Thomas Bonnard is a young Inserm researcher specialized in the synthesis of nanomedicine for the diagnosis and treatment of thrombosis and inflammation. He recently developed polydopamine iron oxide particles for molecular imaging of microthrombi and vascular inflammation. He has strong experience with magnetic resonance imaging and control delivery nanomedicines in the field of vascular diseases. He published recently as last author in several leading journal of his field ACS Nano (2025), Nature Communication (2024), Science Advances (2022). He obtained several funding; ANR JCJC PHySIOMIC 2020-2024, ANR PRC ISCHeMAG 2024-2028, RAI CSL Behring 2022-2025.
Pr Jonathan Vigne, PharmaD, PhD
Radiopharmacist
vigne-jo@chu-caen.fr
Dr. Jonathan Vigne is a Professor of Radiopharmacy and Theranostics at the University and Hospital of Caen Normandy, leading translational research within Inserm U1237. His work focuses on the development and clinical transfer of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals, including nanoparticle-based systems, vectorized beta and alpha emitters, and targeted imaging agents. He also coordinates hospital production of radiopharmaceuticals and contributes to national radiopharmacy teaching programs. Passionate about bridging research and patient care, he aims to advance precision medicine through interdisciplinary collaboration between academia, hospital teams, and industry partners.
Pr Cyrille Orset, PhD
Research scientist
orset@cyceron.fr
Igor Khalin, MD, PhD
Research scientist
khalin@cyceron.fr
Dr. Igor Khalin obtained his medical and doctoral degrees in Ukraine, and he subsequently joined the National Defence University of Malaysia as Associate Professor and Head of the Pharmacology Department. In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship and moved to the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research at LMU Munich. He is currently a Junior Professor Chair (Research Director from August 2026) at INSERM U1237 PhIND. His research focuses on understanding how the blood–brain barrier (BBB) responds to neurological injury. By combining advanced intravital imaging, nanotechnology, and experimental models of stroke and traumatic brain injury, his team investigates how microvascular thrombosis, blood–brain barrier dysfunction, and neuroinflammation interact to drive secondary brain damage. His work pioneered the use of ultra-bright nanoparticles for real-time tracking of nanoscale transport across the neurovascular unit, providing new insights into the role of microthrombi and blood-brain barrier in cerebrovascular disease.
Erwan Baudron, PhD
Research scientist
baudron@cyceron.fr
Dr. Erwan Baudron is a Temporary Lecturer and Researcher in Neuroscience with expertise in gut-immune-brain interactions. His research investigates the role of the intestinal immune system in neurological disorders, with a particular focus on multiple sclerosis and stroke. Through translational research combining neuroscience and immunology, he seeks to uncover gut-derived biomarkers and mechanisms that improve prediction of disease progression and patient outcomes.
Antoine Fournier, PhD
Research scientist
fournier@cyceron.fr
Dr. Antoine Fournier completed his PhD at the University of Caen Normandie, and then moved to Canada for postdoctoral research at the University of Montreal. His significant contributions to immunology and neuroscience earned him a WINNINGNormandy grant, awarded under the Marie Skłodowska – Curie Actions program by the Normandie Regional Council. This funding allowed him to return to the BB@C Institute in 2024 as an INSERM full-time researcher. Dr. Fournier focuses on understanding and imaging neuroinflammation to improve early diagnosis and treatment. Combining neuroscience, immunology, and biomedical imaging, his work aims to create new tools for detecting and modulating inflammation at its earliest stages, with potential applications in stroke, autoimmune, and infectious diseases.
Mathilde Pruvost, PhD
Postdoctoral researcher
pruvost@cyceron.fr
Dr. Mathilde Pruvost completed her PhD at the University of Caen Normandy before pursuing postdoctoral research in New York, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Advanced Science Research Center of the City University of New York, where she later became a Research Scientist. With a background in neuroscience, glial biology, and epigenetics, she joined the PhIND unit in 2026. Her research combines molecular and cellular approaches, animal models, and advanced imaging techniques to develop innovative tools for improving the understanding, detection, and targeted treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Antoine Anfray, PhD
Postdoctoral researcher
aanfray@cyceron.fr
Dr. Antoine Anfray completed his PhD in 2017 at the University of Caen Normandy. After seven years at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York in the laboratory of Costantino Iadecola, he joined the PhIND unit in 2026. His research focuses on the mechanisms regulating cerebral blood flow and how their dysfunction contributes to neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Using advanced in vivo imaging, animal models, and translational approaches, he investigates the role of border-associated macrophages, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation in brain hemorrhage and its complications, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic strategies.
Leonardo Ricciardi, PhD
Postdoctoral researcher
ricciardi@cyceron.fr
Dr. Leonardo Ricciardi joined the PhIND unit in 2026, right after completing his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. His primary work focuses on using iron particles’ guided neuroimaging of inflammation as a diagnostic tool in preclinical models of Multiple Sclerosis. In parallel, he aims to implement advanced MRI modalities, such as diffusion MRI, across different disease models to improve translational imaging.
Charly Helaine, PhD
Research engineer
helaine@cyceron.fr
Dr. Charly Helaine completed his PhD in 2020 at the University of Caen-Normandie and joined the PhIND unit in 2025. His research focuses on the development and application of nano/microparticles as diagnostic and therapeutic agents, in inflammatory diseases, both in vitro and in vivo. In parallel, he explores a second research axis dedicated to the development of a translational model of human thrombus in the context of ischemic stroke, with the aim of improving the understanding of thrombotic mechanisms and guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies.
Juliette Lopez, PhD
Project manager
lopez@cyceron.fr
Dr. Juliette Lopez is a biotechnologist by training and earned her PhD in 2023 at the National University of La Plata (UNLP), Argentina. Her research focused on gene and cell therapy approaches in a sporadic Alzheimer’s disease model. In parallel with her thesis work, she taught Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for several years at the School of Medicine, UNLP. She joined the PhIND laboratory in 2025 to leverage her scientific background in supporting the lab’s management, coordination, and communication activities.
Jolan Malherbe, MD
PhD candidate
malherbe@cyceron.fr
Dr. Jolan Malherbe is a trained physician in intensive care and current PhD candidate. He obtained a master of Science in immunology in 2021 at University Paris-Est Créteil, and completed his MD in 2024 at the university of Caen. His research focuses on imaging tertiary lymphoid structures by immuno-imaging in several animal models of autoimmune diseases and cancer, to improve diagnosis accuracy and prognostic assessment.
Ankita Talukdar
PhD candidate
talukdar@cyceron.fr
Ankita Talukdar is a PhD student with interests in neurovascular research. She completed her Master’s degree in Biotechnology in India. Following her master’s, she worked on cerebral small vessel disease before joining the BiND team for her PhD. Her current research focuses on understanding how post-stroke microthrombosis contributes to blood–brain barrier dysfunction and influences stroke outcomes.
Sophie Trebel
PhD candidate
trebel@cyceron.fr
Sophie Trebel is a PhD student in the team, holding a Master’s degree in Neuroscience obtained at the University of Caen. Her research focuses on developing innovative contrast agents for molecular imaging of the lungs and brain in preclinical models. Using techniques such as MRI and MPI, she investigates physiological and pathological processes, with a particular focus on inflammation.
Canelle Lepillier
PhD candidate
lepillier@cyceron.fr
Canelle Lepillier is a second-year PhD student. Holding a master’s degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrated Neurosciences, she completed her internship on the use of functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI) to characterize functional connectivity in acute ischemic stroke. She continues her research on stroke, focusing this time on leptomeningeal collaterals with ultrasound imaging modalities.
Jules Flon
PhD candidate
flon@cyceron.fr
Jules Flon is currently a PhD student in the team. He obtained a Master in Neuroscience at the University of Caen Normandy in 2024. His PhD research focuses on imaging carotid atherosclerotic plaques, using molecular imaging techniques to visualize the biological activity inside the plaque to identify high-risk plaques and improve diagnosis.
Mandy Leboucher
PhD candidate
leboucher@cyceron.fr
Mandy Leboucher is a currently a PhD student working on the ANR-funded iSCHEMAG project, which focuses on the theranostic treatment of stroke using magnetic hyperthermia. She is expanding this project by integrating photoacoustic imaging and the pulmonary embolism model. Mandy completed a Master’s degree in Physiology and Integrated Biology, with a specialization in the management of preclinical experimentation and animal ethics, at the University of Caen.
Eva Skalski
PhD candidate
skalski@cyceron.fr
Eva Skalski is currently a PhD student in the team. She initially trained in agronomy, but a semester at the University of Oklahoma during her undergraduate studies inspired her to pursue a Master’s in Neuroscience at the University of Caen. Her PhD research focuses on using multimodal imaging using iron oxide microparticles to detect vascular neuroinflammation and improve diagnosis.
Justine Ploteau
PhD candidate
ploteau@cyceron.fr
Justine Ploteau is currently a PhD student in the team. She holds a Master’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Caen. During her master’s program, she worked on the characterization of intravascular phagocytic cells in neuroinflammatory models. Her current research focuses on in vivo imaging of the immune system using contrast agents developed in the lab.
Justine Arnaud
PhD candidate
jarnaud@cyceron.fr
Justine completed a PharmD thesis in 2025 at the University of Bordeaux, studying radiotheranostic strategies in cancer research. She joined the PhIND unit to start a PhD project on the radiotheranostic targeting of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in chronic inflammatory diseases. She focuses on developing the radiolabeling procedure of iron microparticles functionalized with antibodies to target TLS in in vivo autoimmune murine models, aiming to image these structures using PET-MRI.
Clément Ratel
M2 student
ratel@cyceron.fr
Clément Ratel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and is currently a second-year Master’s student in molecular and cellular Neuroscience at the University of Caen. His work focuses on molecular imaging of neuroinflammation. His reasearch involves the use of various imaging techniques, with a particular emphasis on photoacoustic imaging, as well as the development of new contrast agent to better characterize inflammatory processes in the brain.
Manon Cizeau
M2 student
cizeau@cyceron.fr
Amal Boublay
M2 student
boublay@cyceron.fr
Amal Boublay is currently a Master’s 2 student in Neuroscience at the University of Caen. She has been working with the team since her Master’s 1 internship on the characterization of meningeal inflammation using molecular magnetic resonance imaging. Her current research focuses on therapeutic strategies to block the interaction between neutrophils and E-selectin in order to reduce post-stroke inflammation.
Former lab members:
- Audrey Picot, PhD
- Swannie Pédron, PhD
- Marion Morvan, PhD
- Amaury Guillou, PhD
