Isabel C. Lopez-Mejia

Isabel C. Lopez-Mejia is an Assistant Professor at the University of Lausanne (UNIL), affiliated with the Faculty of Biology and Medicine and the Center for Integrative Genomics. She leads an independent research program as an SNSF Prima Fellow, focusing on RNA splicing mechanisms in metabolism and adipose tissue biology, particularly the roles of SR proteins SRSF1 and SRSF2 in obesity and insulin resistance. Her work employs tissue-specific knockout mice, cellular models, RNA sequencing, and metabolic phenotyping.

After earning her PhD from the University of Montpellier, she conducted postdoctoral research under Prof. Lluis Fajas at UNIL, investigating CDK4's role in metabolic regulation. Key contributions include linking CDK4 to insulin signaling and AMPK suppression in adipose tissue. Current research explores how RNA splicing controls metabolic adaptation in fat depots.

• Educations:
  • PhD in Molecular Genetics (2011), University of Montpellier
  • Postdoctoral Training at UNIL (2012–2017)

Her research interests span RNA splicing regulation, metabolic signaling pathways, and their implications in aging, obesity, and diabetes. Key achievements include discoveries about lamin proteins' opposing roles in energy expenditure and lifespan, and CDK4's dual role in coordinating cell metabolism and anabolism.

Awards:

• SNSF Prima Fellowship (2017–present)

Advising & Grants:

• Supervises PhD/Master students (e.g., Eric Fernandez, Houwayda Belaid) and visiting scientists
• Pioneers interdisciplinary approaches combining molecular biology and metabolomics

Labs/Teams: Her team integrates computational methods (e.g., PamgeneAnalyzeR pipeline) with experimental models to study metabolic diseases.