Axel Joly: From Pharmacy to Research on Hematopoiesis

Axel Joly, a pharmacist in his fourth year of doctoral studies atthe Montpellier Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGMM), works in the “Hematopoiesis and Immunotherapy” team under the supervision of Dr. Sandrina Kinet.

What is your background?

I followed a traditional pharmacy track at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Montpellier, specializing in the research track starting in my fourth year. In my fifth year, I continued on to a Master’s 2 program in the MER (Experimental and Regenerative Medicine) track at the Faculty of Sciences, with the primary goal of securing funding to pursue a doctoral thesis in a research laboratory.

For the first three years of my doctoral research, I received funding from the CBS2 doctoral school in Montpellier. I then received a grant from the Foundation for Medical Research (FRM) to complete a fourth year of my doctoral research.

What is the topic of your thesis?

My research aims to better understand how red blood cells are generated from hematopoietic stem cells, and in particular how the metabolic state of the stem cells affects this process.

Our laboratory specializes in the study of nutrient transporters, whose expression and functions are crucial for fueling intracellular metabolic pathways. In this context, my research focuses specifically on the importance of certain amino acid transporters during red blood cell production, both in physiological and pathological contexts.

In fact, my research laboratory, along with other teams, has shown that conditions affecting red blood cell production—such as myelodysplastic syndromes or Blackfan-Diamond anemia—may be associated with metabolic abnormalities. Thus, a better understanding of the metabolic regulation of this process could lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets and the development of innovative therapies for these serious conditions.

Why did you choose a career in research?

I have always been fascinated by mechanisms of action and understanding biological processes, which naturally led me to choose the research track. This track is well-structured, making the transition from pharmacy studies to basic research smooth. It effectively prepares students for the critical analysis of scientific articles and research data—key skills for completing a master’s degree and then a dissertation.

In addition to a solid scientific foundation in biology and chemistry, this program offers a broad-based education that helps students better understand concepts that can sometimes be challenging for those with more specialized backgrounds. The excellent support from the faculty throughout the program also helped me a great deal in making this transition.

How do you see yourself in the future?

After completing my dissertation, I plan to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in a laboratory working on topics that build on my current research. I have already identified some promising laboratories with which I have collaborated in the past. My goal is to continue in academic research.

As for teaching, that interests me as well. I haven’t ruled out the possibility of returning to academia, in pharmacy or the sciences. In an academic career, it’s essential to remain open to all opportunities.