It is through our sensory perception that we experience our environment and bodily sensations. François Lallemend is studying the mechanisms underlying these perceptions in the hope of finding new treatments for sensory impairment. Meet one of the new professors of Karolinska Institutet who will participate in this year's installation ceremony at Aula Medica on 3 October.
Text: Karin Tideström, for KI's installation ceremony booklet 2024
What are you researching?
"My research program delves into the molecules, cell types, and neuronal circuits that underlie sensory perception. The goal is to uncover how our senses operate from the moment they detect something to how the brain processes it and eventually controls our behaviour. I've also recently taken an interest in understanding the roots of sensory impairments, such as hearing impairment. We also conduct comparative analyses in humans to gain insights that could lead to improvements in sensory functions."
Why is this important?
"Processing sensory information is an automatic process that provides the internal and external contexts necessary for us to make sense of the world and interact with our environment. Deficits in sensory systems - that is, the cells and neural networks in which this processing takes place - not only disconnect us from experiencing reality but can also contribute to behavioural problems. The ability to perceive these sensations relies on specialised cell types within our sensory systems and understanding the molecular mechanisms that are governing them is therefore essential for comprehending the causes of sensory impairments."
What is the next step in your research?
"Our laboratory will persist in researching the fundamental principles of sensory perception and exploring possible interventions that can restore or improve sensory functions in individuals with sensory deficits. Of particular importance is understanding the molecular shifts in the auditory pathways during ageing and conditions associated with tinnitus. We hope this will pave the way for the development of precise therapies targeting auditory deficits."
About François Lallemend
Professor of Neurobiology of Sensory Systems at the Department of Neuroscience
François Lallemend was born in 1979 in the Belgian city of Liège. He earned his PhD in 2005 with a thesis in cellular neurobiology at Liège University's GIGA Neuroscience. He went on to do his postdoc studies at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Karolinska Institutet. He established his research group in 2011 and in 2013 was recruited to the Department of Neuroscience, where he leads the lab of Neurobiology of Sensory Systems. François Lallemend was appointed Professor of Neurobiology of Sensory Systems at Karolinska Institutet on 1 December 2023.
