First of all, can you tell us more about yourself? Where are you from, what is your university background?

My name is Sarah, and I was born in Lebanon. I hold a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry and a Master’s in Cellular and Molecular Genetics from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Lebanon). Until recently, I was a joint Ph.D. student in Neuroscience between the University of Bordeaux (France) and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Lebanon). I defended my thesis in December 2024, and I am now a doctor in Neuroscience. I currently work as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Neurodegenerative Disorders (IMN, France) within the framework of the PsycoMed consortium. My main research project aims to elucidate the cortical neuroinflammatory mechanisms of the comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and pain sensitization.

Why did you choose this career path? What is your interest about science?

I have always been fascinated by the central nervous system, particularly the brain. The brain is the most complex and mysterious organ in the human body, yet the most essential one. It controls numerous functions (movement, speech, emotion, memory) required for our daily activities, and any alteration in its functioning and/or development can have detrimental consequences (neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions). Early on, I was drawn to questions like: How do mental illnesses emerge? What are the mechanisms involved in their pathophysiology? Can we rewire the brain to heal it?

My interest in science, particularly neuroscience, escalated when I realized the impact that scientific discoveries can have on improving human health and quality of life. My decision to become a researcher in neuroscience was further reinforced by the increasing prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders in Lebanon and the lack of resources to study these conditions.

By becoming a researcher, I wanted to make a contribution to the field of neuroscience and contribute to advancements that improve lives and open new doors for therapeutic strategies.

Can you tell us more about your mobility? Where did you go, for how long? On what kind of research were you working on? Who did you work with?

During my Ph.D., I worked on unravelling the role of neuroinflammation in the comorbidity between ADHD and pain sensitization. The objective was to (i) elucidate the possible involvement of cortical neuroinflammatory mechanisms in the pathophysiology of these disorders and (ii) highlight specific neuroinflammatory mediators that could become potential therapeutic targets. After three years of research, we ultimately identified a signalling pathway of interest. As more time was needed to investigate the implications of this signalling cascade in ADHD and its comorbid pain sensitization, I decided, together with my supervisor, to come back to Bordeaux for another year to complete the experiments and finalize the project. In parallel, I will also be investigating the effects of pollutant exposure in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (mainly ADHD), which is the main research axis of the PsycoMed consortium.

The PsycoMed consortium has funded 12 months of mobility. Since January 2025, I have been working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute of Neurodegenerative Disorders. I will be staying in Bordeaux until December 2025.

I completed my Ph.D. under the supervision of Pr. Marc Landry (University of Bordeaux) and Pr. Walid Hleihel (Holy Spirit University of Kaslik), who remain as my supervisors during this mobility. Since I started my Ph.D., I have also been working closely with another post-doctoral researcher on our team, Dr. Sandra Sanchez-Sarasua.

Same question, but for people who don’t understand a thing about neuroscience (#PsyCoMedfordummies)

Studies have shown that ADHD patients suffer from chronic pain, while individuals with chronic pain conditions also display ADHD symptoms. This suggests that ADHD and chronic pain are “comorbid”; to make it simpler, they can “co-exist”. However, the mechanisms of this co-occurrence remain unknown. Findings suggest that the inflammatory response in the brain results in this comorbidity. Therefore, my project aims to study this inflammatory response, or neuroinflammation, in a mouse model that mimics ADHD. Also, findings point to the involvement of pollutants in the development of ADHD symptoms. This is another aspect that I will be further investigating during the remaining months I have in Bordeaux.

What will your research bring to people and to society in general?

ADHD and chronic pain are two prevalent disorders that negatively impact the quality of life of patients and that of their families. Despite their prevalence, effective treatments and efficient management of these conditions are still lacking. My research project aims to identify a specific inflammatory mediator involved in the pathophysiology of both disorders. If we can do so, we could use this molecule as a “target” to develop more effective treatments.

How do you feel being part of a MSCA Staff Exchange project? What are the benefits of such mobility? What are the results of your secondment?

Being part of an MSCA Staff Exchange project is an enriching experience. It is a unique opportunity to meet new people (some of whom became close friends), discover a new research environment, collaborate with renowned and skilled scientists, and learn new techniques that are not implemented in Lebanon.

Since January, I have established a new method to modulate the EphA4-EphA3 signaling pathway, our “target”. I also learned and applied new techniques such as stereotaxic surgery in adult mice and behavioral tests to assess ADHD symptoms and pain sensitization. We have interesting results that should be further analyzed during the remaining months of my secondment (I will not spoil our findings, but I hope they will be published soon!). I have also contributed to publications currently under review (and, hopefully, more are yet to come).

Do you already have future projects you want to share with us?

I still have almost six months on my secondment, but I am seeking a position in research and development. Through my future work, I want to explore the role of neuroinflammation in pathological conditions (not only restricted to psychiatric disorders) and elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in their etiology.

Do you have a recommendation/an advice for future potential MSCA fellows?

Science is not an easy path. I would recommend being honest with your data, resilient, and persevering. Indeed, we don’t always get the results we expect, and some experiments might not work as we wish. Never lose hope!

I would also advise making the best of your secondment; it is an amazing opportunity to expand your network and learn new techniques.

And, more importantly, always enjoy doing research.