A university senior lecturer and hospital practitioner in biophysics, imaging and neuroscience at Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, Dominic Sappey-Marinier has built his career around a guiding theme: understanding how the brain works through the most advanced imaging technologies.<\/p>\n\n
Originally from Lyon, he specialised in biomedical imaging early on. During his postgraduate research degree and doctorate, he joined Lyon 1\u2019s nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) laboratory, at a time when clinical MRI was only just appearing in French hospitals.<\/p>\n\n
\"I was one of the first to become interested in the medical applications of MRI, particularly magnetic resonance spectroscopy, an innovative technique that goes beyond anatomical images to provide a true metabolic picture of living systems.\"<\/p>\n\n
\"It is a kind of non-invasive biopsy. We can carry out a chemical analysis of any region of the body, particularly the brain.\"<\/p>\n\n
His early research focused on multiple sclerosis, with the aim of better understanding the brain metabolism associated with the disease. After his doctorate, he spent three years at the University of California, San Francisco, in one of the world\u2019s largest laboratories specialising in MRI and spectroscopy.<\/p>\n\n
During this time, he applied these technologies to various brain conditions, including epilepsy, brain tumours, ischaemic stroke and AIDS. His work contributed to one of the defining discoveries of his career.<\/p>\n\n
\"I was one of the first to show that the brain could produce lactate during visual stimulation.\"<\/p>\n\n
This observation helped change the scientific view of a molecule long regarded solely as a metabolic waste product.<\/p>\n\n
\"Since then, it has been demonstrated that lactate is also an energy source for the brain that neurons can use.\"<\/p>\n\n
Back in Lyon, he helped develop a new MRI centre at Lyon-Sud Hospital and then at CERMEP, Lyon\u2019s major imaging platform, where he heads the MRI department. At the same time, his work gradually shifted from brain diseases towards cognitive science, particularly the study of intelligence and intellectual giftedness.<\/p>\n\n
This search to understand individual differences eventually led him to epigenetics.<\/p>\n\n
For Dominic Sappey-Marinier, epigenetics represents one of the most important paradigm shifts in contemporary medicine.<\/p>\n\n
His interest in the discipline grew from a recurring question in his work on intelligence: what is the contribution of nature and nurture?<\/p>\n\n
\"When I discovered epigenetics, I finally understood that nature and nurture are one and the same. While genetics studies genes and the composition of our DNA, epigenetics studies gene expression, which depends on both inheritance (nature) and the environment (nurture).\"<\/p>\n\n
\"We do not change our DNA, but we can change its expression!\"<\/p>\n\n
This approach helps us understand how our lifestyles shape our biological functioning.<\/p>\n\n
\"Our body is constantly interacting with its environment. Our cells are modified by our lifestyle, by what we eat, what we breathe and what we think.\"<\/p>\n\n
For him, epigenetics extends far beyond conventional genetics. It invites us to consider the human being as a whole system \u2014 a holistic or systemic approach \u2014 in which all cellular systems constantly communicate internally and with information from the environment.<\/p>\n\n
Epigenetics also has clinical relevance. In his view, the scientific evidence accumulated since the early 2000s demonstrates its involvement in many conditions.<\/p>\n\n
\"We now know that epigenetics is involved in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and probably most conditions.\"<\/p>\n\n
But its potential goes even further. For Dominic Sappey-Marinier, the future lies not only in treating diseases, but even more in preventing them.<\/p>\n\n
\"It is essential today, and even more so tomorrow, to develop a medical approach that takes epigenetics into account.\"<\/p>\n\n
\"True prevention means adopting an approach that avoids giving rise to disease, and epigenetics offers a powerful way to raise awareness.\"<\/p>\n\n
\"Our attitudes, our behaviour and the way we live are reflected in the expression of our genes.\"<\/p>\n\n
An idea that opens the way to more personalised prevention, based on each person\u2019s lifestyle choices.<\/p>\n\n
For Dominic Sappey-Marinier, the main challenge today is no longer solely scientific. It is educational.<\/p>\n\n
Despite the explosion of research in the field, epigenetics remains little known to the general public and insufficiently integrated into healthcare training.<\/p>\n\n
Aware of this challenge, he created a university course entitled \"Epigenetics: a new approach in medicine and pharmacology for health prevention and personal development\" <\/strong>for students in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and other healthcare professions.<\/p>\n\n His aim is clear:<\/p>\n\n \"To train, inform and demonstrate the importance of epigenetics in our lives and in our healthcare system.\"<\/p>\n\n Dans ce contexte, il voit les initiatives comme ADN Academy comme particuli\u00e8rement pertinentes.<\/p>\n\n \"Your mission is absolutely essential, because there is a need to inform the general public and train physicians.\"<\/p>\n\n In his view, we are at a turning point where scientific knowledge is sufficiently robust to begin a meaningful process of sharing it.<\/p>\n\n \"I think this really is the moment to launch this kind of initiative.\"<\/p>\n\n Beyond understanding biological mechanisms, he believes it is essential to help everyone better understand the practical impact of their lifestyle on their health.<\/p>\n\n \"It is very important to share information about the effect of our lifestyle on our epigenetics.\"<\/p>\n\n Diet and nutrition, physical activity, sleep and stress management are all factors that directly influence gene expression and can improve our day-to-day health, prevent disease and help us stay healthy as we age.<\/p>\n\n \"Today, we have a major task: informing, training and helping people personalise their lifestyles.\"<\/p>\n\n Ultimately, he sees epigenetics as offering a particularly encouraging prospect: a healthcare system more focused on prevention and personalised medicine, and more centred on each person\u2019s ability to influence their own biological future.<\/p>\n\n Dr Dominic Sappey-Marinier<\/strong> is currently writing a book and launching a project to create a centre for epigenetic wellbeing and personal development\u2026 watch this space.<\/p>\n\n