Marion Leboyer, PU-PH

Our work aims at finding genetic and environmental susceptibility factors underlying different psychiatric disorders with an onset during  childhood (infantile autism and obsessive compulsive disorders) or during  adulthood (bipolar disorder, suicidal behavior and schizophrenia). This research is carried out within the framework of national collaborations (INSERM Psychiatry Genetics network ) or the National Pharmacogenetics Network (INSERM Concerted Thematic Action ) with the aim of identifying genetic factors that determine the favorable or unfavorable response to psychotropic drugs (antidepressants, antipsychotics). These networks are the basis of the Mental Health RTRS (FondaMental Foundation) created in 2007 by the Ministry of Research. The aims of this foundation are:

1) The set up of a national network of expert centers for bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and high level autism.
2) The development of research in psychiatry within a national network of teams from Inserm, CNRS, Pasteur, CEA etc.
3) Information and training in psychiatry.

In order to identify the genetic and environmental vulnerability factors of the main psychiatric disorders, we have identified large cohorts of patients (more than 3500 patients), strictly homogenous in terms of geographical origin. For each subject included, we have collected exhaustive phenotypic data: clinical data (psychiatric diagnosis, state-trait variables, response to psychotropic drugs, environmental factors, and familial history), neuropsychological and cognitive data, electrophysiological data and brain imaging data (fMRI, TDF etc.). A DNA bank and cell lines has been established for each subject, and genotyping performed within our laboratory or in collaboration with various national and international laboratories.

Our research strategy consists of carrying out a phenotypic refinement and validating it at the clinical, familial and finally the genetic level by subsequently attempting to identify the susceptibility factors involved in the disease  throughgenetic methods.

Our work leads us to develop multiple collaborations within different national and international research programs (for example: the national network of the Pharmacogenetics of Psychotropic substances, the P.A.R.I.S. study: Paris Autism Research International Sib Pair Study, international study of early onset bipolar disorder etc.)

Our research on the identification of genetic and environmental susceptibility factors of psychiatric disorders should lead to the development of new diagnostic strategies, and to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.

The pharmacogenetic studies should lead to the individualized prescription of psychotropic drugs, allowing for the improved treatment of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders.

In the context of the FondaMental Foundation, the establishment of expert centers for bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, or high level autism will allow, from the point of view of patient care, to improve the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, and from the point of view of research, to establish a unique location for research and treatment, permitting the setting up of cohort follow-up studies and medicoeconomic studies, the identification of bio-markers, the development of innovative therapeutic strategies etc.

In the context of our research in the fields of schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders, we have constructed databases of clinical, neuropsychological and descriptive information from geographically homogenous cohorts of patients, coupled with a bio-bank of DNA and cell lines. Prospective studies carried out in the context of pharmocogenetic studies of psychotropic substances rely on the construction of clinical, pharmacological and pharmacogenetic databases.

Patents :
Variations génétiques associées à des troubles psychiatriques. Bourgeron T., Melke J., Goubran Botros H., Launay JM., Leboyer M., Gillberg C., Chaste P., Delorme R. (Institut Pasteur), PCT Int Pat. Appl., 2007, 70pp.
N°Publication : WO002007052166 ; N° Application : PCT/IB2006/003935

Polynucléotide et protéine impliqués dans la synaptogenèse, variants de ceux-ci, et leurs applications thérapeutiques et diagnostiques. Bourgeron T., Jamain S., Quach H., Betancur C., Leboyer M., Gillberg C. (Inserm, Institut Pasteur, AP-HP), PCT Int. Pat. Appl., 2003, 416pp
N° Publication : WO 002003045998 ; N° Application : PCT/FR2002/004134.

IMRB - Inserm U955
Equipe 15 "Psychiatrie génétique"
Groupe Hospitalier Chenevier-Mondor,
40 rue de Mesly- Créteil 94000
Secretary : Maité Sansac
Tél. : 01 49 81 28 52