PhD student Melina Guillon receives award at ECTS 2026

Mélina Guillon, PhD student at KMEB, presented her work at the ECTS congress in April 2026. Mélina investigates the potential of rapamycin as a preventive therapy for post-menopausal bone loss. Using a genetically heterogeneous mouse model alongside experiments in human cells, the project explores how targeting fundamental aging mechanisms may help preserve skeletal health and counteract osteoporosis.

The study particularly focuses on the role of mTOR inhibition in skeletal aging, showing that rapamycin can alleviate ovariectomy-induced trabecular bone loss while modulating inflammatory and osteogenic pathways. By using genetically diverse mice, the work also aims to provide a model that better reflects the variability seen in human populations and strengthens the translational relevance of the findings.

The project contributes to a growing geroscience perspective in which osteoporosis is viewed not only as a hormonal disease, but also as an age-related condition that may be targeted through interventions acting on the biology of aging itself.

Presenting her work at ECTS 2026 was her first time. "It was both an honor and an inspiring experience", Mélina said. "Sharing these findings with leading researchers in the bone field, and discussing the translational perspectives of the project, was an especially valuable opportunity". One can only agree with that. European Calcified Tissue Society (ECTS) Congress is a major international meeting in the field of musculoskeletal science. Congratulations to Mélina!