I obtained my PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Montpellier in France, under the supervision of Pr. Max Recasens. I studied the expression of the glutamate transporters in hippocampal neuronal culture that yielded 4 publications. During my PhD, I also had the opportunity to teach Physiology classes to master sciences students.
After my PhD, I was interested in studying the mechanisms of axonal guidance and neuronal migration and I did my first postdoctoral research with Dr Linda J. Richards in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. I studied the molecular regulation of commissural tract formation in mice. In particular, I was studying the role of a number of different genes, Slit2, Robo1, Robo2, DCC, Netrin, Npn1, Emx1, Emx2 and members of the Nfi gene family in axon guidance and cellular migration in the developing cortex.
Following these studies on axonal guidance mechanisms during brain development, I began studying the migration of the GABAergic interneurons during brain development with Dr Elizabeth Powell, acquiring additional skills in analyzing the consequences of gene deletions/modifications in embryonic development. I studied the role of Hepatocyte Growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) in the developing and mature cerebral cortex using the Cre-loxP recombination technology.
I am now working with Dr Adam Puche on human stem cells migration after transplantation. The transplantation of stem cells into the central nervous system has the potential for a cell replacement therapy or delivering exogenous gene products. I recently received a postdostoral fellowship award from the Maryland Stem Cell Research.

During those years of training I have acquired good skills in neuroscience. I have expertise in cell cultures, immunochemistry, brain sectioning, in situ hybridization techniques, in utero electroporation techniques and plasmid injections in utero, brain axonal tracing, basic microscopy and scanning techniques, fluorescent and confocal microscopy, western blot techniques and brain anatomy skills.

2008-present: Postdoctoral position: "Role of Metalloproteinases in the migration of transplanted human stem cells" with Dr Adam Puche in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

2006-2007: Postdoctoral position: "Role of Hepatocyte Growth factor and its receptor Met in the cerebral cortex", with Dr Elizabeth Powell in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

2001-2005: Postdoctoral position: "Axonal guidance and gene expression during the development of the corpus callosum", with Dr Linda Richards in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

1998-2000: Doctorate of Philosophy: "Glutamate transporter expression during in vitro development of hippocampal neurons", supervisor: Pr. Max Récasens, Laboratory of Cerebral Plasticity, UMR 5102 CNRS, Montpellier University, France.

1. C. Plachez, N.C. Danbolt and M. Récasens. Transient expression of the glial glutamate transporter in hippocampal neurons in primary culture. 2000, J. Neurosci. Res., 59(5):587-93.

2. S. Gaillet, C. Plachez, F. Malaval, M-F. Bézine and M. Récasens. Transient increase in the high affinity [3H]-L-glutamate uptake activity during in vitro development of hippocampal neurons in culture. 2001, Neurochem Int., 38(4):293-301.

3. T. Shu, K.G. Butz, C. Plachez, R.M. Gronostajski and L.J. Richards. Abnormal development of forebrain midline glia and commissural projections in Nfia knock-out mice. 2003, J. Neurosci., 23(1):203-12.

4. G. Devau, C. Plachez, J. Puyal, N. Pierrot, S. Ventéo and J. Raymond. Expression of glutamate transporters in the medial and lateral vestibular nuclei during rat postnatal development. 2003, Develop. Neurosci., 25(5):332-42.

5. C. Plachez, A. Martin, J. Guiramand and M.Recasens. Astrocytes repress the neuronal expression of GLAST and GLT glutamate transporters in cultured hippocampal neurons from embryonic rats. 2004, Neurochem Int., 45(7): 1113-23.

6. L.J. Richards, C. Plachez and T. Ren. Mechanisms regulating the development of the corpus callosum and its agenesis in mouse and human. 2004, Clinical Genetics 66(4): 276-89.

7. G. Steele-Perkins, C. Plachez, K. Butz, G. Yang, C. J. Bachurski, S. L. Kinsman, E. D. Litwack, L. J. Richards and R. M. Gronostajski. The transcription factor Nfib is essential for both lung maturation and brain development. 2005, Mol. Cell. Biol. 25(2):685-98.

8. J. Zhang, Y. Chen, J.M. Hardwick, M.I. Miller, C. Plachez, L.J. Richards, P. Yarowksy, P. van Zij, S. Mori. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor microimaging reveals a role for Bcl-x in brain development and homeostasis. 2005, J. Neurosci. 25(8):1881-8.

9. J. Zhang, M.I. Miller, C. Plachez, L.J. Richards, P. Yarowksy, P. van Zij, S. Mori. Mapping postnatal mouse brain development with diffusion tensor microimaging. 2005, Neuroimage 26(4):1042-51.

10. T. Ren, A. Anderson, W. Shen, H. Huang, C. Plachez, J. Zhang, S. Mori, S.L. Kinsman & L.J. Richards. Imaging, anatomical and molecular analysis of callosal formation in the developing human fetal brain. 2006, Anat. Record, 288A(2): 191-204.

11. W. Andrews#, N. Liapi#, C. Plachez#, L. Camurri, J. Zhang, S. Mori, J. Parnavelas, V. Sundaresan and L. J. Richards. "Robo1 regulates the development of major axon tracts and interneuron migration in the forebrain." 2006, Development 133:2243-2252. #These authors contribute equally.

12. W.B. Shen, C. Plachez, A.S. Mongi & L.J. Richards, Identification of candidate genes at the corticoseptal boundary during development. 2006, Gene Expression 6(5):471-81.

13. G.J. Martin, C. Plachez and E.M.Powell. "Loss of embryonic MET signaling alters profiles of hippocampal interneurons." 2007, Develop. Neurosci. 29(1-2):143-58.

14. T. Ren, J. Zhang, C. Plachez, S. Mori and LJ Richards. "Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging and tract-tracing analysis of Probst bundle structure in Netrin1- and DCC-deficient mice." 2007, J Neurosci. 27(39):10345-9.

15. M. Piper, A. S. Dawson, C. Lindwall, G. Barry, C. Plachez, and L J. Richards. "Emx and Nfi genes regulate cortical development and axon guidance in the telencephalon." Novartis Found Symp in press

16. C. Plachez, C. Lindwall, R. Moldrich, C. Campbell, J. Osinski, R. Gronostajski and LJ Richards "Nuclear Factor One Gene Expression in the Developing Forebrain"J Comp Neurol 508(3):385-401.

17. C. Plachez#, W. Andrews#, N. Liapi, B. Knoell, U. Drescher, T. Rashid, B. Mankoo, L. Zhe, E.T. Mambetisaeva, L. Camurri, A. Annan, J. Parnavelas, L.J. Richards and V. Sundaresan. "Mice Deficient in Robo2 Demonstrate Defects in Axon Guidance and Fasciculation in the Visual System" MCN 37(4):719-30. # These authors contribute equally.

 

1. C. Plachez and L. J. Richards. Mechanisms of axon guidance in the developing nervous system. 2005 Current Topics in Developmental Biology, volume 69, 267-346, Neural Development, edited by Gerald Schatten. Elsevier/Academic Press.