Alyson Elise Fournier, PhD

Alyson Elise Fournier, PhD
Contact Information
Phone: 
514-398-3154
Email address: 
alyson.fournier [at] mcgill.ca
Biography: 

Alyson Fournier's research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating axon degeneration and regeneration. Neurons in the central nervous system that are injured following traumatic injury or in neurodegenerative conditions fail to repair spontaneously. The abortive regenerative response can be attributed both to a failure of injured neurons to initiate a growth program and to the inhibitory growth environment.  The aim of Fournier's research program is to develop a better understanding of the molecular signalling in neurons following traumatic injury or upon exposure to inflammatory insults such as those occurring in multiple sclerosis. Her current projects are focusing on the role of miRNAs and 14-3-3 adaptor proteins in neuronal responses to injury. A fuller understanding of the neuronal response to injury will be used to develop strategies to promote neuroprotection and neuronal regeneration.

Selected publications: 

Senolytic treatment diminishes microglia and decreases severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Drake SS, Zaman A, Gianfelice C, Hua EM, Heale K, Afanasiev E, Klement W, Stratton JA, Prat A, Zandee S, Fournier AE. J Neuroinflammation. 2024 Nov 1;21(1):283. doi: 10.1186/s12974-024-03278-2. PMID: 39487537 Free PMC article.

A miR-383-5p Signaling Hub Coordinates the Axon Regeneration Response to Inflammation.

Hintermayer MA, Juźwik CA, Morquette B, Hua E, Zhang J, Drake S, Shi SS, Rambaldi I, Vangoor V, Pasterkamp J, Moore C, Fournier AE. J Neurosci. 2024 Oct 30;44(44):e1822232024. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1822-23.2024. PMID: 39266301

Ependymal cells undergo astrocyte-like reactivity in response to neuroinflammation.

Groh AMR, Caporicci-Dinucci N, Afanasiev E, Bigotte M, Lu B, Gertsvolf J, Smith MD, Garton T, Callahan-Martin L, Allot A, Hatrock DJ, Mamane V, Drake S, Tai H, Ding J, Fournier AE, Larochelle C, Calabresi PA, Stratton JA. J Neurochem. 2024 Oct;168(10):3449-3466. doi: 10.1111/jnc.16120. Epub 2024 May 4. PMID: 38702968

Cellular rejuvenation protects neurons from inflammation mediated cell death.

Drake SS, Mohammadnia A, Heale K, Groh AMR, Hua EM, Zaman A, Hintermayer MA, Zandee S, Gosselin D, Stratton JA, Sinclair DA, Fournier AE. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Oct 2:2023.09.30.560301. doi: 10.1101/2023.09.30.560301.PMID: 37873446 Free PMC article. Preprint.

Comparing RNA-sequencing datasets from astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia in multiple sclerosis identifies novel dysregulated genes relevant to inflammation and myelination.

Drake SS, Zaman A, Simas T, Fournier AE. WIREs Mech Dis. 2023 Mar;15(2):e1594. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1594. Epub 2023 Jan 4. PMID: 36600404 Review.

Research areas: 
Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroimmunological Diseases

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The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) is a bilingual academic healthcare institution. We are a McGill research and teaching institute; delivering high-quality patient care, as part of the Neuroscience Mission of the McGill University Health Centre. We are proud to be a Killam Institution, supported by the Killam Trusts.

 

 

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