Role:  Associate Professor (MCU)

Theme: Toxicology and Environmental Health

Localisation : CBRS 2nd floor university side – office 235

Phone number: 05 19 56 42 42

Email address: nicolas.vedrenne@unilim.fr

 

Research

Keywords: Personalized medicine, Organ-on-a-Chip, Pharmacokinetics, Drug membrane transporters, Microfluidics, Proximal tubule-on-a-chip, Xenobiotics, toxicology,

The described project focuses on the development of innovative models called “organs on chips” (Organ on Chip, OoC) to study the toxicity of drugs and their mode of action on the body. These models represent an advancement in the field of “microphysiological systems” (MPS), which are devices designed to more realistically replicate the functioning of human organs in a laboratory setting.

These systems use microfluidics to simulate physiological flows such as blood and urine. This allows cells to behave more naturally compared to traditional cell culture methods. These models offer an alternative to animal testing, in accordance with the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), while overcoming the limitations of animal models, which cannot always faithfully reproduce the complexity of human physiology.

The development of these technologies requires interdisciplinary collaboration, combining expertise in microfabrication, microfluidics, biomaterials, cell biology, and pharmacology/toxicology. The goal is to create robust in vitro models to better understand the effects of drugs and associated pathologies, while reducing experimental biases.

Teaching

  • In the 3rd year of pharmacy studies, the basics of toxicology and analysis methods
  • In the 4th year of pharmacy studies, Toxicology, Toxicovigilance, Environmental Health, Occupational Health, and preparation for the intern competition
  • In the 5th year of pharmacy studies, Regulatory Toxicology (industry track) and Addictionology (community pharmacy track)
  • In the 2nd year of Health Sciences, Toxicology applied to cell biology
  • In the DEUST Pharmacy Technician-Preparation program, Toxicology-Addictionology

Career path

Since 2024 Associate Professor in Toxicology and Environmental Health, Faculty of Pharmacy, Limoges. Inserm UMR 1248, Pharmacology and Transplantation
2021-2024 Senior Postdoctoral Researcher within the Pharmacology and Transplantation unit, Inserm UMR1248, led by Professor Pierre Marquet. Research topic: Microphysiological system for studying inter-organ signaling between the liver and kidneys
2018-2021 Postdoctoral Researcher: European iPSpine project, which includes both universities and companies, to develop a new advanced therapy for lower back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. U1229, RMES, Nantes
2016-2018 ostdoctoral Researcher: Development of an endoscopic probe to improve early diagnosis of tumors. This project was conducted through a synergy of cross-disciplinary expertise in medicine, biology, chemistry, materials engineering, and processes, University of Limoges, AVRUL
2013-2015 emporary Teaching and Research Assistant – “New method for sorting endothelial and neural progenitors from human induced pluripotent stem cells”. CAPTuR Research Team – Control of Cell Activation, Tumor Progression, and Therapeutic Resistance – UMR Inserm 1308, University of Limoges, FR 3503 GEIST: Institute of Genomics, Environment, Immunity, Health, and Therapeutics

Degrees and qualifications:

2022-2026 CNU Qualifications for section 65 (n°2326525659)
2015-2019 CNU Qualifications for sections 69 and 85
2010-2013 PhD Thesis from the University of Limoges, France. Doctoral School ED 524, defended on December 5, 2013. Subject: Roles of different astrocyte populations in the repair mechanisms after central nervous system injury. UR 20218 NEURIT, University of Limoges, France
Juin 2012 University Diploma in Special Training for Animal Experimentation Level 1, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Paris Descartes
2009-2010 Master’s degree, specialization: Biology, Health, Agronomy, Cellular, Molecular Biology, and Genetics, specializing in stem cells. University of Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Poitiers
2007-2008 Bachelor’s degree in Biology, specialization in Cellular Biology and Genetics, University of Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Poitiers