Denis David

Denis David is a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Paris-Saclay, Faculty of Pharmacy, and a member of the Moods team at the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health (CESP – Univ. Paris-Saclay, Inserm, UVSQ). His research focuses on improving depression treatment through neuropharmacological mechanisms and translational models.

His educational background includes:

• DEUG in Life Sciences and Bachelor's in Physiology (1998, Catholic Institute of Vendée)
• Master's in Physiology/Pharmacology
• DEA in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology (2000, University of Paris-Sud)
• PhD in Pharmacology (2003, University of Paris-Sud)

Professor David's pioneering research centers on adult hippocampal neurogenesis as a critical mechanism for antidepressant efficacy and relapse prevention. His development of the Cort model—which mimics depression via corticosterone administration—revolutionized preclinical testing and is now used worldwide. Current work explores 5HT4 serotonin receptor targeting for non-addictive anxiety treatments and neuroplasticity imaging using translational radioactive markers.

His notable awards include:

• Leem grant for postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University
• NARSAD Young Investigator award from Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
• Schaefer Award (2022) from Columbia University

As Deputy Director of Research at the Graduate School of Health and Drug Sciences and co-director of the Master 1 in Drug and Health Product Sciences, he bridges research and education. His industry collaborations led to ANSM-validated drug characterization (available in France, Japan, and US since 2013), while current projects focus on minimizing depressive relapse through neurogenesis maintenance.

• Grants: Leem, NARSAD, Schaefer Award
• Industry Collaborations: Pharmaceutical development partnerships

The Moods team at CESP represents one of France's few bidirectional translational research units, enabling seamless transition between rodent models and human therapeutic applications, exemplified by their Cort model adoption and clinical drug development.