The Live Like Lou Foundation proudly announces the addition of Claire Le Pichon, PhD, to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Le Pichon is a senior investigator in the Development of Neurodegeneration Unit at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“Dr. Le Pichon brings an exceptional blend of scientific rigor, creativity, and compassion to our Scientific Advisory Board,” said Evangelos Kiskinis, Ph.D., scientific director of the Live Like Lou Foundation. “Her pioneering work on the early mechanisms of neurodegeneration will strengthen our ability to identify and support research that moves the field closer to meaningful treatments for ALS.”

A graduate of Cambridge University (B.A.) and Columbia University (Ph.D.), Dr. Le Pichon began her neurodegenerative disease training in Dr. Stuart Firestein's laboratory studying the function of the cellular prion protein PrPC. She continued her work at Genentech in the Translational Neuroscience group developing preclinical drug candidates for neurodegenerative disorders. In 2016, Dr. Le Pichon joined the NIH where she established her own laboratory at the NICHD.

At the Le Pichon Lab, Dr. Le Pichon leads a multidisciplinary team investigating the early events that underlie neurodegenerative disease onset and progression. Using advanced tools such as mouse genetics, tissue imaging, CRISPR-based genetic screens, single-cell sequencing, and mechanistic analyses in iPSC-derived neurons, her research aims to answer fundamental questions about:

• Why certain types of brain or spinal cord nerve cells are more likely to become damaged in diseases like ALS.

• How problems with cell energy, waste management, and inflammation in the brain can cause nerve cells to break down across different diseases.

• How nerve cells and nearby support cells in the brain communicate and react when under stress during disease progression.

Her work has profound implications for improving the understanding and treatment of ALS and related neurodegenerative diseases.

Beyond her scientific achievements, Dr. Le Pichon is close to ALS and Live Like Lou communities. She is a registered Live Like Lou volunteer through our Connect & Serve program combining her professional knowledge with hands-on engagement.

“The Live Like Lou Foundation is honored to welcome Dr. Le Pichon to its Scientific Advisory Board,” shared Wendy Faust, executive director. “She joins a distinguished group of scientific leaders guiding Live Like Lou’s approach to funding ALS research. Her expertise will help the foundation continue fostering collaboration and innovation in pursuit of better treatments and ultimately a cure for ALS.”

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