معرفی
Justine Cléry, PhD, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. She leads the Sensory and Social Brain Mechanisms (SSBM) Lab at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute) and contributes to autism research through the Azrieli Centre for Autism Research (ACAR). Her work bridges fundamental neuroscience with clinical applications in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Education:
- Doctorate in Neurosciences, University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (2017), supervised by Prof. Suliann Ben Hamed at Institut des Sciences Cognitives
- Postdoctoral Associate, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario (2017-2021), with Prof. Stefan Everling
Research Interests: Dr. Cléry pioneers fMRI studies in awake non-human primates to decode neural mechanisms of social cognition and sensory processing. Her work examines how the brain represents peripersonal space, processes looming visual stimuli, integrates multisensory cues, and constructs social interaction networks. This research employs marmoset models to investigate fundamental questions with implications for autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental conditions, uniquely combining cognitive neuroscience and advanced neuroimaging.
Publication Trends: Her 2015-2021 publications reveal a cohesive trajectory using ultra-high field fMRI to map brain networks in marmosets. Key themes include social interaction observation systems, somatosensory/visual processing hierarchies, and spatial representation mechanisms. This body of work establishes critical methodological frameworks for awake primate neuroimaging while advancing understanding of neural substrates underlying social and sensory functions.
Scientific Awards:
- BrainsCAN Postdoctoral Fellowship Tier II (2017-2021)
- BrainsCAN Postdoctoral Fellowship Tier I (2021-2022)
- CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship (2021-2022)
- Berthe-Fouassier Foundation Fellowship (2016-2017)
Advising and Grants: Dr. Cléry has secured competitive postdoctoral fellowships from BrainsCAN, CIHR, and Berthe-Fouassier Foundation. As SSBM Lab director, she mentors graduate researchers in neuroimaging techniques and primate neuroscience. Her work leverages institutional resources at The Neuro and collaborative frameworks through ACAR, with funding supporting cutting-edge fMRI capabilities for awake animal studies.
Labs and Teams: The Sensory and Social Brain Mechanisms (SSBM) Lab develops innovative fMRI paradigms for awake marmosets to investigate social and sensory brain functions. Dr. Cléry actively contributes to the Azrieli Centre for Autism Research (ACAR), participating in interdisciplinary initiatives that connect basic neuroscience with autism spectrum disorder research through The Neuro's open science framework.
