DESPRES Philippe

Virologist

University Professor, La Reunion University

Team Molecular and Cellular mechanisms of infections Agents (MOCA)

Contact:
philippe.despres[at]univ-reunion.remove-this.fr
Tél : +33(0)262732559

Research Interests

Virology, arbovirose (Chikungunya, Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley Fever, Yellow fever, West Nile, Zika), viral pathogenesis, molecular virology, host-pathogen interactions, antiviral innate immunity, viral diagnosis, and vaccine development.

Member of global community of researchers:

Education :

1985 : Master in Biochemistry, Paris 7 University
1986 : Academic Virology course, Institut Pasteur, Paris
1988 : PhD in Biochemistry, Paris 7 University
2000 : HDR in Sciences, Paris 7 University

Professional experience:

Since 2015 : University professor, La Reunion University
2014-15 : Detachment from Institut Pasteur to UM 134 PIMIT
2008-14 : WHO collaborative centre for Arboviruses and HFV
2008-14 : OIE collaborative centre for Rift Valley Fever
2008-12 : Head of National Reference Centre for Arboviruses
2002-14 : Scientific manager of BSL3
2002-14 : Head of IMFH research laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Paris
1995-2002 : Assistant professor, Institut Pasteur, Paris
1994 : Post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins School of Medecine, USA
1991-94 : Young Researcher, Institut Pasteur, Paris
1989-91 : Fellowship, Institut Pasteur, Paris

Administration :

2020 -24: Leader of the MOCA team from the UM134 PIMIT
2015 -19: Leader of the I2T team from the UM134 PIMIT
2008-12 : Head of National Reference Centre for Arboviruses
2002-14 : Head of IMFH research laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Paris

Referee for Scientific Organizations :

Ad’hoc reviewer for international and national grants (Welcome Trust, NIH, MRC, ANR…)
Full member of American Society of Virology, USA, since 1995.
WHO expert for arboviruses (Geneva).

Referee for peer-reviewed journals:

Acta tropica, Antiviral res., Arch. of Virology, CMI, EID, EMBO Med., Future Virology, J. FASEBJ, J. Neuroinflammation, J. Virol., J.Med.Virol., J.Gen.Virol., JOVE, MEEGID, Nature Protocol, PLos NegTropMed, PLoS One, Sci.Report, Vaccine, Virologie, Virology J., Virulence, Virus Res, IJMS, Vaccines…Member of Virologie and IJMS editorial boards

Major research funds since 2002 :

European programs FP-6, FP-7 Health, and H-2020 : 7
FEDER Région Réunion : 1
French ANR programs : 7
Transverse Research Programs, Institut Pasteur : 6
Other local and international programs: 5
R&D programs : 5

Publications : 220

h-index: 55 (11/2019)

i-index: 118 (11/2019)

web site https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_T6IMFYAAAAJ

Current patents : 14

Short bibliography :

Philippe DESPRES (PhD) was the former director of the virology laboratory « Flavivirus-Host Molecular Interactions » (FHMI) from 2002 to 2014 at the Institute Pasteur, Paris (France). FHMI hosted the National Reference Centre for Arboviruses (France) from 2008 to 2011. This virology lab studied the biology of arboviruses of medical interest and pathogenesis of arboviral diseases. It has also contributed to the development of innovative tools for laboratory diagnosis and candidate vaccines against arboviruses. Since 2015, Philippe DESPRES is a virologist integrated into the UM 134 PIMIT (Infectious Process in a Tropical Island Environment) as head of the research teams I2T (20015-19) and MOCA (2020-24). The UMR PIMIT is hosted by the technology platform CYROI in La Reunion island. The research projects of I2T and now MOCA are mainly directed towards the comprehensive study of host-pathogen interactions with a particular focus on mosquito-borne Zika and dengue viruses. They also contribute to the identification of innovative antiviral compounds and design of vaccines against medically-important arboviruses.