معرفی
Alexandra Vallet is an Associate Professor at the Centre Ingénierie et Santé of IMT Mines Saint-Étienne, where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of biophysics, neurology, and fluid mechanics to investigate intracranial pulsations and their relationship to neurodegenerative diseases.
Her academic background includes a PhD in astrophysics focused on reproducing stellar conditions using high-power lasers, followed by research at CEA on photon transport in hot plasmas. She transitioned to neuroscience through a postdoctoral position at the Toulouse Neuro Imaging Center (ToNIC) in collaboration with the Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse (IMFT), where she trained in brain biomechanics under neurosurgeon Éric Schmidt and researcher Sylvie Lorthois.
Vallet's research centers on how brain rigidity correlates with vulnerability to external aggressions and neurodegenerative pathologies. She investigates the glymphatic system—driven by intracranial pulsations—that clears neurotoxic waste like amyloid-beta proteins. Her work demonstrates that this system operates more efficiently during sleep due to enhanced slow pulsations, suggesting that optimizing sleep-related pulsations could slow diseases like Alzheimer's. She emphasizes the critical role of mechanical properties in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics and toxin clearance.
Currently preparing a European Research Council (ERC) project submission, Vallet aims to establish the physical link between sleep pulsations, glymphatic efficiency, and long-term neurodegenerative outcomes. Her work leverages transdisciplinary collaboration and advanced MRI technology through IMT Mines Saint-Étienne's resources.
Vallet operates within IMT Mines Saint-Étienne's Centre Ingénierie et Santé, maintaining active collaborations with CHU de Toulouse, IMFT, and a dedicated sleep specialist. Her research team spans neurosurgery, fluid mechanics, biology, and mathematics, reflecting her commitment to integrated approaches for tackling neurodegenerative diseases.
