Here is the portrait of the recipient of the 2023 Jacques-Huot Scholarship, Louis Nonfoux, a doctoral student in Molecular Medicine in the team of Professors Jean-Yves Masson and Guy Poirier. This scholarship is made possible by the Cancer Research Center of Université Laval and the Cancer Fund of the Université Laval Foundation.
Louis Nonfoux is currently enrolled in the doctoral program in molecular medicine, under the supervision of Professors Guy Poirier and Jean-Yves Masson. His research focuses on the role of poly-ADP ribose polymerase 2 (PARP-2) and its involvement in DNA repair mechanisms following ionizing radiation, with a particular emphasis on double-strand break repair by homologous recombination. PARP-2 performs PARylation, playing a central role in the spatiotemporal organization of the cellular machinery involved in DNA repair. Unlike PARP-1, which has been the subject of extensive studies for decades, the contribution of PARP-2 to the regulation of the DNA damage response remains unknown. His research project therefore focuses on studying the role of PARP-2 in this context, offering a new perspective and providing a unique angle to determine its implication in genome integrity maintenance mechanisms.
He began his studies in research in microbiology and infectious diseases by completing his final internship on a theme related to menstrual toxic shock syndrome. In this project, he studied the impact of protections used by women on the development and production of toxin by Staphylococcus aureus. Subsequently, he was hired as a study engineer to finalize the work undertaken during his internship, thus specifying the recommendations for the use of intimate protections.
In addition to his training in scientific research, he joined the CRC Student Committee to share the various activities of the research center with other students. During his training in France, he continued his commitment within the French firefighter department, participating in missions of the departmental fire and rescue services, notably in mountain rescue. He also competes in sports, especially triathlon at Université Laval. Furthermore, he was an assistant for the women's national cycling division of Chambéry (Savoie department), for which he designed the website.