Dr Julien Legrand is a Postdoctoral Scientist working in the Germline Stem Cell Biology Group led by Associate Professor Robin Hobbs at the Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research. He is also an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University.

Dr Legrand completed his PhD in Regenerative Medicine at the University of Queensland, where he studied adult stem cell and regenerative biology using murine skin and the hair follicle as a model system. Using novel mouse models and in vitro techniques, he characterised the role of transcription factors STAT5 and SOX18 in hair follicle regeneration, as well as the contribution of macrophage populations and genetic polymorphisms on skin wound healing and inflammation.

To pursue his interest in adult stem cell biology, Dr Legrand joined the Germline Stem Cell Biology group in 2015 where he now uses the murine male germline as a model system to understand molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell maintenance and fate decisions. In particular, he is interested in identifying molecular pathways that can be targeted to manipulate stem cell behaviour in order to improve tissue regeneration following damage.

Besides his research work, Dr Legrand is actively involved in representing Early Career Researchers at Institute- and Faculty-level committees, and is passionate about identifying and addressing areas to promote ECR career development and wellbeing.

Selected publications

• Legrand JMD, Chan AL, La HM, Rossello FJ, Änkö ML, Fuller-Pace FV, Hobbs RM (2019) DDX5 plays essential transcriptional and post-transcriptional roles in the maintenance and function of spermatogonia. Nature Communications 10(1): 2278.

• Legrand JMD, Roy E, Baz B, Mukhopadhyay P, Wong HY, Ram R, Morahan G, Walker G, Khosrotehrani K (2018) Genetic variation in the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway affects contact hypersensitivity responses. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 142(3): 981-984.

• Legrand JMD, Roy E, Ellis JJ, Francois M, Brooks AJ, Khosrotehrani K (2016) STAT5 activation in the dermal papilla is important for hair follicle growth phase induction. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 136(9): 1781-1791.

• Legrand JMD, Hobbs RM (2018) RNA processing in the male germline: mechanisms and implications for fertility. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 79: 80-91.

• La HM, Mäkelä JA, Chan AL, Rossello FJ, Nefzger CM, Legrand JMD, De Seram M, Polo JM, Hobbs RM (2018) Identification of dynamic undifferentiated cell states within the male germline. Nature Communications 9(1): 2819.

• La HM, Chan AL, Legrand JMD, Rossello FJ, Gangemi CG, Papa A, Cheng Q, Morand EF, Hobbs RM (2018) GILZ-dependent modulation of mTORC1 regulates germline stem cell maintenance. Development 145(18). DOI: 10.1242/dev.165324.

• Chan AL, La HM, Legrand JMD, Eichenbach M, De Seram M, Hobbs RM (2017) Germline stem cell activity is sustained by SALL4-dependent silencing of distinct tumor suppressor genes. Stem Cell Reports 9: 1-16.

• Wang Q, Oh JW, Lee HL, Dhar A, Peng T, Ramos R, Guerrero-Juarez CF, Wang X, Zhao R, Cao X, Le J, Fuentes MA, Jocoy SC, Rossi AR, Vu B, Pham K, Wang X, Mali NM, Park JM, Choi JH, Lee H, Legrand JMD, Kandyba E, Kim JC, Kim M, Foley J, Yu Z, Krzysztof K, Andersen B, Khosrotehrani K, Nie Q, Plikus MV (2017) A multi-scale model for hair follicles reveals heterogeneous domains driving rapid spatiotemporal hair growth patterning. eLife 6: e22772.

• Villani RM, Hodgson SS, Legrand JMD, Greaney J, Wong HY, Pichol-Thievend C, Adolphe C, Wainwright B, Francois M, Khosrotehrani K (2017) Dominant negative Sox18 function inhibits dermal papilla maturation and differentiation in all murine hair types. Development 144(10): 1887-1895.

• Rodero MP, Legrand JMD, Bou-Garios G, Khosrotehrani K (2013) Wound-associated macrophages control collagen 1α2 transcription during the early stages of skin wound healing. Experimental Dermatology 22(2): 143-145.