Presentation

After training at the Dermatology Department of New York University, Adel Al Jord joined the Biology Institute of the Ecole Normale Supérieure for his PhD and early post-doctoral work in Cell & Developmental Biology. His research established mechanisms underpinning the creation of vital motile cilia-powered flows known to generate routes of communication in brain ventricles, expel pathogens from airways, support immunity, and promote reproduction. The studies also provided a paradigm-shift in cell biology by revealing that cells can repurpose evolutionary conserved mechanisms of cell division to drive cell differentiation instead of proliferation. This type of mechanism-repurposing could promote diseases like microcephaly and tumorigenesis, thus opening new research avenues for studies focusing on these pathologies. Adel then joined the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology at the Collège de France where he led a study exploring the development of mammalian female germ cells named oocytes. His work revealed that oocytes deploy mechanical forces to remodel organelles, known as condensates, for reproductive success. This interdisciplinary research opens new perspectives not only in fundamental mechanobiology, but also when studying condensate-associated diseases like aging, cancer, neurodegeneration, and viral infections. Adel Al Jord's current interests reside in further understanding this physical dialogue between forces and condensates on a broader scale in different cellular and environmental contexts.