François Leulier

François Leulier is a biologist and geneticist at the Institute of Functional Genomics of Lyon (IGFL), affiliated with École Normale Supérieure de Lyon. He serves as director of IGFL since 2021, having previously been deputy director from 2019. His research focuses on host-microbe interactions, particularly how intestinal microbiota influences animal physiology and growth under nutritional stress.

His research spans several interconnected fields:

• Host-microbe interactions during malnutrition-induced growth retardation
• Genetic basis of innate immune response using Drosophila models
• Molecular mechanisms of beneficial microbiota effects on animal growth
• Gnotobiology (controlled microbial environment studies)
• Microbial ecology and physiology
• Translational applications for childhood malnutrition

Dr. Leulier's scientific achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards:

• CNRS silver medal (2024)
• National Junior Award (2017)
• EMBO Young investigator (2014)
• CNRS bronze medal (2013)
• ERC Starting Grant 2012: MutFlyGutBact

He leads the 'Integrative physiology of host-microbe interactions' team at IGFL, employing multidisciplinary approaches including gnotobiology, genetics, and functional genomics. His laboratory works with Drosophila melanogaster and Mus musculus models alongside bacterial strains like $$\text{Lactiplantibacillus plantarum}$$ and $$\text{Acetobacter}$$ spp. His groundbreaking 2016 discovery demonstrated conserved host-microbe growth optimization mechanisms from insects to mammals, with significant implications for addressing childhood malnutrition affecting 155 million children worldwide. Leulier actively collaborates with industry partners to translate fundamental research into practical health applications.