Team 1
Biophysics of the Brain

Decoding how glial cells shape brain function and synaptic communication

Our team investigates the contribution of glial cells, in particular cortical astrocytes and Bergmann glia of the cerebellum, to brain metabolism and signaling.
We study the mechanisms by which ion channels, transporters, and organelles in perisynaptic glial processes regulate and shape synaptic transmission.

Our research also explores astrocyte calcium signaling and its role in neuron–glia communication.
Building on recent work, we are developing new research directions focused on tissue clarification and advanced light-sheet imaging approaches.

We combine expertise in electrophysiology, advanced microscopy (including super-resolution, 3-D imaging, and linear and non-linear techniques), immunofluorescence, and mouse genetics to investigate glial structure and function across multiple biological models.

Research areas : Glial biology – Astrocyte signaling – Synaptic modulation – Calcium dynamics – Neuroglia interactions – Advanced imaging

Research Topics

Optimization of MeCP2 Gene Replacement Therapy for Rett Syndrome

Improving gene therapy for Rett syndrome by enhancing brain delivery and fine-tuning MeCP2 regulation.

Deciphering the Roles of Importins in CNS and PNS Functions

Exploring how nuclear transport proteins regulate neuronal function, behavior, and gene expression.

Drug Screening Approaches

Identifying and validating new therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Recent Publications

Journal articles

2026

Moulzir, M., Hazart, D., Delhomme, B., Oheim, M., & Ricard, C. (2026, Jan). Label-free high-resolution volume imaging of cleared testes. Reproduction [Cambridge]. <10.1093/reprod/xaaf021>. <hal-05468462>.

Moulzir, M., Hazart, D., Delhomme, B., Oheim, M., & Ricard, C. (2026, Jan). Light as a feather: A novel approach for whole- feather microstructure imaging through tissue clearing and autofluorescence imaging. Annals of Anatomy, 152781. <10.1016/j.aanat.2026.152781>. <hal-05471200>.

2025

Olevsko, I., Shehadeh, M., Eswaran, L., Ohorodniichuk, D., Teblum, E., Feldberg, M., Weisman, L., Golan, R., Licata, F., Oheim, M., Byk, G., & Salomon, A. (2025, Sep). Modular Hydrogel‐Based Nano‐Bead Emitters for Bright, Homogeneous Fluorescent Thin Films and 3D Architectures. Advanced Optical Materials, e02454. <10.1002/adom.202502454>. <hal-05235666>.

Shavit, O., Suaudeau, H., Julien, C., Klimovsky, H., Mañas-Chavernas, N., Salomon, A., & Oheim, M. (2025, Aug). Combinatorial sample- and back-focal-plane imaging. Pt. I: Instrument and acquisition parameters affecting BFP images and their analysis. Biophysical Journal. <10.1016/j.bpj.2025.08.009>. <hal-05236016>.

Ricard, C., Hazart, D., Delhomme, B., Moulzir, M., Rakotoson, I., & Oheim, M. (2025, Jun). Fast Tissue Clearing and Volume Imaging Techniques for Anatomy. Microscopy Research and Technique. <10.1002/jemt.70013>. <hal-05236179>.

Hazart, D., Moulzir, M., Delhomme, B., Oheim, M., & Ricard, C. (2025, Mar). Imaging the enteric nervous system. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 19, 1532900. <10.3389/fnana.2025.1532900>. <hal-05236146>.

Ahmed, A., Alegret, N., Almeida, B., Alvarez-Puebla, R., Andrews, A., Ballerini, L., Barrios-Capuchino, J., Becker, C., Blick, R., Bonakdar, S., Chakraborty, I., Chen, X., Cheon, J., Chilla, G., Coelho Conceicao, A. L., Delehanty, J., Dulle, M., Efros, A., Epple, M., Fedyk, M., Feliu, N., Feng, M., Fernández-Chacón, R., Fernandez-Cuesta, I., Fertig, N., Förster, S., Garrido, J., George, M., Guse, A., Hampp, N., Harberts, J., Han, J., Heekeren, H., Hofmann, U., Holzapfel, M., Hosseinkazemi, H., Huang, Y., Huber, P., Hyeon, T., Ingebrandt, S., Ienca, M., Iske, A., Kang, Y., Kasieczka, G., Kim, D.-H., Kostarelos, K., Lee, J.-H., Lin, K.-W., Liu, S., Liu, X., Liu, Y., Lohr, C., Mailänder, V., Maffongelli, L., Megahed, S., Mews, A., Mutas, M., Nack, L., Nakatsuka, N., Oertner, T., Offenhäusser, A., Oheim, M., Otange, B., Otto, F., Patrono, E., Peng, B., Picchiotti, A., Pierini, F., Pötter-Nerger, M., Pozzi, M., Pralle, A., Prato, M., Qi, B., Ramos-Cabrer, P., Genger, U. R., Ritter, N., Rittner, M., Roy, S., Santoro, F., Schuck, N., Schulz, F., Şeker, E., Skiba, M., Sosniok, M., Stephan, H., Wang, R., Wang, T., Wegner, K. D., Weiss, P., Xu, M., Yang, C., Zargarian, S. S., Zeng, Y., Zhou, Y., Zhu, D., Zierold, R., & Parak, W. (2025, Mar). Interfacing with the Brain: How Nanotechnology Can Contribute. ACS Nano, 19(11), 10630-10717. <10.1021/acsnano.4c10525>. <hal-05413699>.

Szederkenyi, K., Attisano, L., Oheim, M., & Yip, C. (2025, Feb). BPS2025 – Human astrocyte calcium signaling in a cerebral organoid. Biophysical Journal, 124(3), 514a. <10.1016/j.bpj.2024.11.2701>. <hal-05413967>.

Singer, A., Trigo, F., Vinel, L., Gruere, O., Llano, I., & Oheim, M. (2025, Jan). A first morphological and electrophysiological characterization of Fañanas cells of the mouse cerebellum. The Journal of Physiology, 603(4), 855-871. <10.1113/jp285949>. <hal-04803395>.

Pre-publications

2025

Szederkenyi, K., Au, A., Attisano, L., Oheim, M., & Yip, C. (2025, Sep). Morphological heterogeneity of human astrocytes in cerebral organoids. <10.1101/2025.09.18.675430>. <hal-05413987>.

See all publications

Team leader
Martin Oheim, Director, Senior Researcher, PI, CNRS, Core unit, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain

Members
Vincent Armand, Assistant Professor, UPCité, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Brigitte Delhomme, Engineer, CNRS, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Ombeline Gruère, Ph.D Student, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Carine Julien, Assistant Professor, ENS-Paris-Saclay, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Marwa Moulzir, Engineer, UPCité, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Clément Ricard, Assistant Professor, UPCité, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Adi Salomon, Chateaubriand Senior Research Fellow, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Omer Shavit, Postdoc, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Kaitlin Szederkenyi, Ph.D Student, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Keren Zahlenchuck, Ph.D Student, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain

Maia Brunstein, Associate Professor, USPC until 2020, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Diane Derrien, Assistant Engineer until 2021, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Philippe Djian, Senior Researcher, CNRS until 2024, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Nicola Gaetano Gatta, Phd visitor until 2021, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Capucine Gendre, Master Student until 2024, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Doriane Hazart, Ph.D Student until 2026, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Mona Kappes, Master Student until 2020, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Anna KARNAFIL, Health Science degree internship until 2022, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Mahesh Karnani, Visitor – ETH Zurich until 2020, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Natalia Mañas Chavernas, Master Student until 2021, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Maël Monerie, Master Student until 2023, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Isabelle Nondier, Technician, CNRS until 2018, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Carmen Paradela-Leal, Visitor – Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS) until 2025, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Irina Rakotoson, Master Student until 2020, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Marc Saghiah, Master Student until 2021, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Elke Schmidt, Postdoc until 2018, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Antonin Singer, Engineer until 2024, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Hugo Touja, Technician until 2026, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Léa Vinel, Master Student until 2023, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain
Yicong Wu, Master Student until 2025, Team 1 – Biophysics of the brain