Team

Fanny earned her Ph.D. in Neurosciences in 2013 at the University of Lille, France, where she investigated the role of tanycytes in the regulation of energy balance. Following her Ph.D., she conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia University, USA, in the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center under the supervision of Domenico Accili (2014–2017), studying the molecular mechanisms governing transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of hepatic gene expression to maintain glucose homeostasis. In 2017, Dr. Langlet was awarded an SNSF Ambizione fellowship at the Center for Integrative Genomics (Thorens Laboratory, University of Lausanne), where she established her research team and focused on the gene expression profiles underlying tanycyte glucose sensing. In 2020, she received an SNSF Eccellenza fellowship and an ERC Starting Grant to investigate the molecular mechanisms of tanycyte–neuron communication. Since June 2024, she has been an Assistant Professor with tenure track in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Lausanne.

Irina received her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Developmental Biology in 2006 from the Technion, Israel, under Prof. Podbilevicz, where she studied developmental processes using fluorescent microscopy in various nematode species. She then conducted postdoctoral research at the IGBMC in Strasbourg, France, with Prof. Labouesse (2007–2011), focusing on the organogenesis of the C. elegans excretory system using molecular biology, genetic manipulation, and advanced microscopy techniques.

In 2007, Irina became Head of the Electron Microscopy Center at the University of Rennes, France, where she focused on implementing and refining electron microscopy techniques for diverse basic and applied biomedical studies. She enhanced existing volume EM methods and developed new approaches to improve the efficiency of EM analysis. In 2011, she joined UNIL’s EM facility as a senior researcher, contributing to national and international collaborations and advancing correlative light and electron microscopy techniques, with a particular focus on array tomography.

Judith obtained a master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Granada and a master’s degree in Biosciences from the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France. From 2017 to 2020, she pursued her Ph.D. in Neuroscience in the laboratory of Dr. Gilles Mithieux in Lyon, under the supervision of Dr. Amandine Gautier-Stein, investigating the role of intestinal gluconeogenesis in the postnatal development of hypothalamic feeding circuits. In 2021, she joined Dr. Fanny Langlet’s laboratory in Lausanne to study the role of tanycytes in the postnatal development of hypothalamic feeding circuits, as well as the cellular mechanisms underlying tanycyte–neuron communication for the regulation of energy balance, with a particular focus on local translation within tanycytes.

Rafik obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Sorbonne-Université and his Master’s degree in Neurosciences from Université Paris-Saclay. During his pre-master’s thesis, he investigated the role of astroglial connexins in synaptic plasticity at the Collège de France, Paris. For his Master’s project, he joined the team of Professors Lubetzki and Stankoff to study oligodendroglial factors regulating synapse formation. In 2021, Rafik joined Professor Fanny Langlet’s laboratory as a Ph.D. student and is currently investigating the signals involved in tanycyte–neuron communication for the regulation of energy balance.

Hannah obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Neuchâtel and her master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, specializing in Metabolism and Human Health, from the University of Lausanne. During her first master’s project, she investigated the role of lactate in regulating the microglial mitochondrial network. She then joined Prof. Langlet’s team for her master’s thesis, studying the impact of tanycyte-derived signals on the development of hypothalamic neurons regulating food intake in mice. In 2025, Hannah joined Prof. Langlet’s laboratory as a Ph.D. student and is currently investigating how tanycytes orchestrate lipid homeostasis within the hypothalamic cellular network.

Xavier is responsible for preparing ordering lists, managing mouse lines, and procuring laboratory supplies. He also assists lab members with a variety of experimental techniques.