Frank Dumetz
Contact Information:
Training Program:
Post-doctoral Fellow
Mentor(s):
Dr. David Serre
Summary of the Research Project:
Within the Serre team, I have 2 main projects: (1) the understanding of the mechanism of RNA retention during Plasmodium gamecytogenesis using RNA-RNA proximity sequencing and (2) establishing the difference between the nuclei transcriptome and the cytoplasm transcriptome of Plasmodium falciparum. Both those research lines are highly fundamental but understanding how the parasite makes sexual forms will give new possibilities to develop drugs to interfere with transmission.
Recently, I extended our portfolio of parasites of interest to include Leishmania major, the parasite responsible of cutaneous leishmaniasis. In a collaboration with the NIH we are looking at the single cell transcriptome of two different forms of the parasites inside the insect host. We are also investigating the mammalian host tissue remodeling after infection with Leishmania.
Education:
PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp, Belgium and University of Antwerp, Belgium
Achievements and Honors:
- Cambridge university award Professional Services Recognition Scheme 2020 in the Cross University category
- Year Laureate of the Natural Science of the Belgian Royal Academy for Over Sea Science (2018
- Zoetis Travel Award (May 2017)
- Research Fellowship (2014 and 2015) – Les amis de l’Institut Pasteur de Bruxelles
- EMBO Short term fellowship (1 month – January 2015)
- FWO (Flemish Research Foundation) Short term fellowship (1 month – January 2015)
About me:
It is fair to say that I am a pure product of the EU: French citizen, PhD from Belgium, research stay in Germany and first post-doc done in England (when it is was still in the UE). I love to travel to visit all the people I have met at work. Oh yes, despite being in my 30s, I already have my plan to retire: it will be in the north of Greece. Why? They have the most wonderful beaches I had the pleasure to rest onto and the food is divine. Outside of a laboratory you can find me: at the gym, in a dance class, in a bar/club with my friends and the day after reading a book (mostly fiction) next to a steaming cup of tea and a box of ibuprofen. I recently started to be a mentor for GSA link, a non-profit organization providing, among other things, mentoring for LGBTQ+ youth. Follow me on Twitter @FranckDumetz for work and parasites related things