Flavie Coquel, for women and science

Beating cancer. That, in a nutshell, is the new goal Flavie Coquel set for herself a few months ago. At the time, the doctoral student from Artois was working atthe IGH on DNA replication—the process by which two identical DNA molecules are produced from a single cell. Under the supervision of Philippe Pasero and Yea-Lih Lin, Flavie discovered that DNA has the ability to escape from a cell’s nucleus and—most importantly—that this process triggers an automatic immune response. “As demonstrated by the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine laureates, the immune system can play a role in the treatment of cancerous tumors,” explains the young woman, whose discovery—quickly hailed by the scientific community precisely for its therapeutic potential—was the subject of a highly acclaimed publication in the journal Nature last April.

L'Oréal-UNESCO Fellowship

In early October, Flavie Coquel was awarded the prestigious 2018 L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” Fellowship (see box) alongside Camille Scalliet , a doctoral student at the Charles Coulomb Laboratory in Montpellier, and 18 other French female researchers. With the €15,000 grant, Flavie hopes to contribute, through her future research, to improving immunotherapy techniques—specifically, the treatment of cancer and other autoimmune diseases through the forced activation of the immune system.

Born in Metz-en-Couture (62), the daughter of a medical secretary and a farmer, Flavie Coquel enrolled in a prestigious engineering school after earning a science-focused high school diploma with honors. “It wasn’t until later, around age 17 or 18, that my interest in science and the desire to pursue a career with strong practical applications really took hold, ” explains the young woman, who is currently finishing her biology thesis atthe IGH, where the scarcity of women—as in other areas of scientific research—strikes a chord with her. With a happy event expected in the spring and a “postdoc” in Switzerland starting in September on the horizon for this vibrant young woman, Flavie Coquel says she is very proud of the award she received from the L’Oréal Foundation. An award that, far more than a sum of money, has above all given her self-confidence.

The L'Oréal-UNESCO Prize

The L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” Award promotes the role of women in scientific research. Established in 1998, it is awarded annually by the L’Oréal Foundation to young female researchers whose outstanding research has contributed to the advancement of science.

In 2018, 30 French women researchers were awarded research grants ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 euros by a jury composed of members ofthe Academy of Sciences and leading scientific experts.

[1] James Allison and Tasuku Hon