Brigitte Malgrange

Professor Brigitte Malgrange is Research Director at the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS) and General Director of the GIGA Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research at the University of Liège. She also serves as Vice-Director of GIGA-R and holds an appointment within the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, and the Neurology unit.

Education:

• Doctor of Pharmacy, University of Paris, 1989
• European DEA in Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1990
• PhD in Experimental Biomedical Sciences, University of Liège, 1994

Research Interests:

Professor Malgrange’s research is centered on developmental neurobiology and neuroscience, with particular emphasis on the inner ear and hearing loss. Her laboratory investigates mechanisms of cochlear hair cell regeneration, neuroprotection following stroke, and cell fate decisions during development. She employs stem cell models, nanomedicine-based drug delivery, and mouse genetics to translate fundamental discoveries into therapeutic strategies for sensorineural hearing loss and neurodegenerative diseases.

Across her recent publications, a clear trend emerges toward nanomedicine approaches for sustained drug delivery to the inner ear, molecular regulation of cochlear cell fate, and epigenetic control of neural development. These studies collectively advance both basic understanding and translational applications in auditory neuroscience.

Scientific Awards:

• Galien Prize (1996)
• Alverenga de Piauhy Prize (2004)
• Comte de Launoit Prize, Friends of ULiège (2005)

Grant Leadership & Collaborations:

Professor Malgrange coordinates major European initiatives, including the NANOEAR project funded under the EuroNanoMed3 Horizon 2020 program, uniting academic and industrial partners across France, Spain, Belgium, and Turkey to advance nanomedicine for hearing disorders.

Laboratory & Platforms:

She leads the Developmental Neurobiology Unit within GIGA-Neurosciences, leveraging access to cutting-edge core facilities such as Genomics, In vitro and In vivo Imaging, Viral Vectors and Gene Editing, and Animal Facilities (Mouse & Zebrafish), positioning her team at the forefront of biomedical innovation at the University of Liège.