Neuro-physio-behaviorist, PhD

About Me

Hi, I’m Damien, behavioral scientist or “neuro-physio-behaviorist” ….
I like doing and trying stuff, mostly science related.
My main research interests are gravitating around the concepts of Adaptation, Stress, coping strategies, social interactions which are linked to main physiological features
such as cardiac regulation and sensory-processing.
I am an advocate for the biobehavioral phenotyping of animals models, pushing for a description over an interpretation of data!
Now, I am focusing on analysing the skin as (one of) the first interface linking environnement and behavioral adaptation.

I am an expert in behavior: protocols and analysis. I’m moderator of TheBehaviourForum
I know few Python librairies: Pandas, Scipy, Seaborn, statsmodel, Dabest, ipywidget …
I developped one python library (LMT-Widget-Tool) in order to helping non-python-experts to analyze live mouse tracker data.
I combine behavioral tests with physiological parameters, such as ECG/HRV and Skin-Nerve recordings.
My utlimate goal is to improve the way preclinical behavioral research could benefit clinical conditions.

Lab Experience

Labs of E. Bourinet and A. Francois (Affective touch lab link,
Uni Montpellier, Inserm, IGF
Montpellier, France

Postdoc #2

July 2021 - May 2024

bourinet lab website

What if the skin and somatosensory system were involved in social deficits of a mouse model of autism?

Studying the affects of Affective Touch on mice:

Analyzing a Shank3-KO mouse model of autism:

What if sensory deficits at the periphery may be related to reduced sociability ? Dysregulation of primary somatosensory neurons.
Links with Heart rate variability features ?
Studying the emergence of social interest and its link with vagal components.
Studying the development of affective touch neurons (C-LTMRs) and their implication on the development of sociability. Technics used: Skin-Nerve recordings, Live Mouse Tracker (https://livemousetracker.org/), ECG recordings (HRV analysis), behavioral phenotyping…

Jeanneteau lab,
Inserm, IGF,
Montpellier, France

Postdoc #1

Feb 2019 - Feb 2021

Studying social behaviors with two mice model of Autism (Magel2-KO and Cntnap2-KO). I developped the Social Fear Conditioning protocol and the Live Mouse Tracker system in the laboratory. I observed higher social fear retention in both mice model of autism. I tried to reduce social fear with positive social interactions (with different social housing conditions)… It only worked in some specific situations. … To be continued …

Sandi lab, EPFL, Switzerland

PhD candidate

March 2014 - June 2018

LGC lab

During my PhD thesis I focused on a model of rats selected for differential adaptation profiles to stress. Low < Inter < High reaction animals, showed different bio-behavioral profiles. Articles from the lab validated the use of the lines as an effective way to study neurodevelopment disorders related to stress pathways. I showed that both Low and High lines had abnormal heart rate variability (cardiac susceptibility). I observed that High line rats had better working memories after aging: “stress helps consolidate memories” while the Low line rats had impaired learning and deficits in memory reversal: “illustrating negative effects of blunted stress responses”. Finally, by housing rats from the different lines together I obsereved the relative influence of social buffering and social contagion between rats with different ‘personalities’ (still under preparation…).

Mumby lab,
Concordia University,
Montreal.

Master project

July 2012 - October 2013

CSBN website

The effects of extrinsic stress on somatic markers and behavior are dependent on animal housing conditions, D. Huzard et al., Physiology and Behavior, 2015

Studying the benefical effects of Enriched Environments on stressed rats. Rats were stressed and then housed in enriched environment in social groups (4 males and 2 females). We observed beneficial effects of the enrichment on the behavioral phenotype of the stressed animals.

Academic Education

EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

Master's degree in Neuroscience

September 2011 - September 2013

5.6/6

EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences

September 2008 - September 2011

Publications

The impact of C-tactile low-threshold mechanoreceptors on affective touch and social interactions in mice.
Science advances. 2022 June 29; Vol 8, Num 26 eabo7566. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abo7566. PMID: 35767616; PMCID: PMC9242590.
Huzard D, Martin M, Maingret F, Chemin J, Jeanneteau F, Mery PF, Fossat P, Bourinet E, and François A. PDF.
Experience and activity-dependent control of glucocorticoid receptors during the stress response in large-scale brain networks.
Stress. 2021 March;24(2):130-153. DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1806226
Huzard D, Rappeneau V, Meijer O.C., Touma C., Arango-Lievano M., Garabedian M.J., Jeanneteau F PDF.
Constitutive differences in glucocorticoid responsiveness are related to divergent spatial information processing abilities.
Stress. 2020 Jan;23(1):37-49. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2019.1625885. Epub 2019 Jun 12. PMID: 31187686.
Huzard D, Vouros A, Monari S, Astori S, Vasilaki E, Sandi C.
PDF.
Control of Social Withdrawal of Mice Deficient for the Autism Gene Magel2 by Restoration of Vasopressin-Oxytocin Dialogue in Septum.
Borie AM, Dromard Y, Dufner D, Pollozi E, Huzard D, …(+7)…, Jeanneteau F.
bioRxiv link
The link between aberrant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity during development and the emergence of aggression-Animal studies.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018 Aug;91:138-152. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.008. Epub 2016 Oct 14. PMID: 27751733.
Walker SE^*, Papilloud A^*, Huzard D^*, Sandi C.
^*equal contribution. PDF.
Low vagal tone in two rat models of psychopathology involving high or low corticosterone stress responses.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Mar;101:101-110. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.003. Epub 2018 Nov 3. PMID: 30448728.
Huzard D, Ghosal S, Grosse J, Carnevali L, Sgoifo A, Sandi C.
PDF
Low empathy-like behaviour in male mice associates with impaired sociability, emotional memory, physiological stress reactivity and variations in neurobiological regulations.
PLoS One. 2017 Dec 4;12(12):e0188907. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188907. PMID: 29200428; PMCID: PMC5714342.
Laviola G, Zoratto F, Ingiosi D, Carito V, Huzard D, Fiore M, Macrì S.
Urolithin A induces mitophagy and prolongs lifespan in C. elegans and increases muscle function in rodents.
Nat Med. 2016 Aug;22(8):879-88. doi: 10.1038/nm.4132. Epub 2016 Jul 11. PMID: 27400265.
Ryu D, Mouchiroud L, Andreux PA, Katsyuba E, Moullan N, Nicolet-Dit-Félix AA, Williams EG, Jha P, Lo Sasso G, Huzard D, Aebischer P, Sandi C, Rinsch C, Auwerx J.
The effects of extrinsic stress on somatic markers and behavior are dependent on animal housing conditions.
Physiol Behav. 2015 Nov 1;151:238-45. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.07.018. Epub 2015 Jul 26. PMID: 26220463.
Huzard D, Mumby DG, Sandi C, Poirier GL, van der Kooij MA. Fulltext PDF

Conferences / Oral and poster presentations

2023, Nov. - SFETD, Saint-Malo - Oral presentation <\b> in the ‘Young Talents’ session. “PRIMARY SOMATOSENSORY NEURONS DYSFUNCTION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AUTISM”
2023, July - The Festival of Touch, IASAT, Marseille - poster<\b> “PRIMARY SOMATOSENSORY NEURONS DYSFUNCTION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AUTISM”
2023, May - Neurofrance, Lyon, poster<\b> “PRIMARY SOMATOSENSORY NEURONS DYSFUNCTION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AUTISM”
2023, March - French Pain Research Network Symposium, Montpellier: “ITCH HYPERSENSITIVITY AND SOMATOSENSORY DYSFUNCTION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AUTISM”
2023, March - YISS, IGF Montpellier: “PRIMARY SENSORY NEURONS DYSFUNCTION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF AUTISM”
2023, Jan. - EPNA Award special lecture, Eranet meeting, Madrid, Presenting this paper
2022 - Spin-Days, Sète. Oral Presentation, ‘The skin is the new brain’
2022 - FENS, Paris. Poster ‘The Impact of C-LTMRs on sociability in mice’
2022 - Short Communication, GIS Autism Andrew #3
2020 - FENS, Virtual. Poster ‘’
2019 - Invited Talk by Vincent Prevost, Inserm Lille, ‘The links between Stress Adaptation and the personality of rats’
2018 - FENS, Berlin. Poster ‘’
2018 - MATRICS (EU FP7) General Assembly. Oral Presentation. Roma.
2018 - Webinar for MATRICS EU-FP7 consortium, (Youtube Link).
2017 - MATRICS (EU FP7) General Assembly. Oral Presentation. Majorca.
2017 - EPFL Brain-Mind-Institute retreat, Villars, Oral Presentation
2016 - FENS, Copenhagen. Poster ‘’
2016 - MATRICS (EU FP7) General Assembly. Dublin.
2015 - Ettore Majorama Conference, Stress, the brain and the heart, Erice, Italy
2014 - FENS, Milan. Poster ‘’

Grants / Awards

2023, June - YISS, IGF - Best Speaker Award. 500€ => Cajal MABA Neurokit course.
2023, March - RFRD 2023 Symposium - Best Presentation Award. => Invitation au congrès SFETD 2023.
2023, January - EPNA - ’Excellent Paper in Neuroscience Award’ from neuron-eranet.eu for our article in Science Advances: paper Link
2021 - 1-year postdoc Founding, by the Lefoulon-Delalande foundation
2020 - FENS attendance voucher
2018 - FENS/IBRO Travel Grant

Press / Science Outreach

Gehirn & Geist Feb 2023, Die soziale Kraft der Berührung, Article Link
Neurosapiens Podcast Nov 2022, on Social contacts audio link
Cerveaux et Psycho Oct 2022, Le toucher fondement du lien social, online article link
Espiloon 2021, Le pouvoir des Caresses, on issue N°147
Canal9 TV channel, TV Interview for documentary of rats social behaviors.

Reviewing articles

2022 - Frontiers in Neuroscience

Collaborations

Lilian Basso (Toulouse): Analysis of inflammatory markers in the skin.
Antoine Besnard (IGF): Testing somatosensory responses (Von-Frey filaments) in the context of avoidance in mice.
& Testing active place avoidance (APA) of Shank3 mice.
Pascal Fossat & François Maingret (Bordeaux): in vivo Ephys on C-LTMRs.
Emmanuel Valjent (IGF): screening social dynamics in LMT with Amphetamines.

Responsabilities

2023-Today, Moderator of TheBehaviouralForum.org
2023-Today, Member of COST-TEATIME (WG3 & 4): Improving biomedical research by automated behaviour monitoring in the animal home-cage
2022-Today, Member of the IGF lab council.
2021-Today, President of a non-profit association (related to abstract tattoo)
2017-2018, Junior representative of the MATRICS FP7 european project (Project description).
2016-2018, Organizer of the EPFL-BMI happy hours
2013-2014, Member of the AESV association website

Students supervised

2023-2024, Giulia Oliva (PhD student) - Behavior and Shank3 mouse model.
2022-2024, Paul Carrascosa (M2 + 1-year CDD) - Python development of LMT tools (ipywidget) - Creation of a user-friendly jupyter notebook for data visualisation and stats.
2023 (2 months), Hasan Lamat (MD internship) - Training (PCRs, behavioral experiments and scoring analysis).
2023 (2 months), Mattéo Traissac (M1) - Python development of LMT tools.
2020 (6 months), Bérénice Pommier (M2) - Analysis of Social Fear Conditioning in Magel2/Cntnap2 mice models + Brain IHC (Covid period…)
2020 (6 months), Fanny Andreu (IUT) - Analysis of Social Fear Conditioning in Magel2/Cntnap2 mice models
2016, Astrid Nilsson (Bachelor)
2016, Marie Abbet (Bachelor)
2015, Ann-Rivière Warter Jouve (Bachelor) - Anxiety-like behavioral test on rats + statistical analysis
2015, Hugo Moreno (Bachelor) - operant conditionng on rats + statistical analysis