My PhD project
Meet our new PhD student Melina Guillon.
Hi, my name is Melina Guillon. As a French pharmacist with a background in Finland, where I earned a Master’s degree in Neuroscience, I now pursue my true passion: studying Aging. My PhD project consists in investigating the effects of rapamycin (an anti-aging drug) on skeletal aging in post-menopausal women.
The aim of my PhD project is to investigate whether an “anti-aging treatment” such as rapamycin can mitigate postmenopausal bone loss and enhance musculoskeletal health. Specifically, I seek to determine if rapamycin can promote bone formation and reduce the burden of cellular senescence within bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their microenvironment. I aim to uncover the mechanisms by which rapamycin acts on key bone cells—including MSCs, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts—using primary cells obtained from elderly, osteoporotic, and young donors, as well as from participants enrolled in a clinical trial initiated by our research group. Additionally, I will assess the effects of rapamycin treatment on bone health using an animal model of postmenopausal bone loss.
The PhD journey itself mirrors the essence of aging—a transformative process marked by challenges, growth, and discovery. It demands curiosity, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty, all while staying grounded in the pursuit of knowledge and truth.