THOMAS LAVERGNE

- Master 2 Chemistry for Life Sciences (CLS) and Organic synthesis for pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries (SO-IPA) :

Bio-targeted Chemistry 1 & 2 - CHI931 : Combinatorial Chemistry, Applications in Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Chemical Biology.

High-throughput Biology - CHI934 : Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screens.

Langues

- Méthodes Expérimentales  Plurisdisciplinaires (L1) - MEP101

- Processus d'Exploration Professionnel (L2) - PEPL2

2017: HDR, Université Grenoble Alpes
2013-present : CNRS Researcher at DCM-I2BM, Université Grenoble Alpes, France
2013 : Post-Doc at  DCM-I2BM, Université Grenoble Alpes, France
2010-2012 : Post-Doc at The Scripps Research Institute, California, USA
2006-2009 : PhD in Chemistry at IBMM, Montpellier, France

After a master degree, at University of Montpellier 2, where I primarily studied the chemistry and biology of different classes of biomolecules, my Ph.D. research, under the supervision of Dr. Françoise Debart at IBMM-Montpellier (2006-2009), focused on nucleic acid chemistry. I primarily developed a new strategy for the chemical synthesis of RNA molecules and a methodology to assemble modified siRNA for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

In 2010, I joined the group of Prof. Floyd Romesbeg at the Scripps Research Institute (La Jolla, CA, USA). During this three years of post-doctoral experience, I shared my time between the multi-step synthesis of unnatural nucleosides and nucleotides for the expansion of the genetic alphabet, the in vitro and in vivo evaluation and structural characterization of such unnatural bases pairs and the site specific bioconjugation of the resulting unnatural DNA and RNA for biophysical studies and applications in nanotechnology.

At the present time, my research program focuses on the developement of novel classes of nucleic acid binders through combinatorial approaches. In particular we are developping the DNA encoded library technology (DEL) for the identification of affine and specific G-quadruplex binders.

In parallel I contribute to the design, engineering and application of nucleic acid foldamers mimicking DNA and RNA secondary structures such as G-quadruplexes and i-motif.  Those molecular objects are curently exploited, in collaboration, for the identification of selective binders (synthetic ligands or in vivo protein partners) and as catalysts and aptamers. 

Overall my research is mainly established on bioorganic chemistry, nucleic acid chemistry (nucleoside, nucleotide, DNA and RNA), peptide chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, combinatorial chemistry and molecular biology, with the synthesis and manipulation of DNA and RNA conjugates, by chemical and enzymatic means.

Full publication list : Orcid: 0000-0002-0029-0015

- 2 licensed patents, 2 book chapters and 8 abstracts and proceedings

- >20 oral communications in international conferences and seminars