Dr. Marie-Yvonne Akoume earned a BSc. in Biology from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) as well as a MSc. in Toxicology and a PhD. in Pharmacology from Université de Montréal. Thereafter, she completed her postdoctoral training in the department of Pharmacology & therapeutics at McGill University and in the Cancer & Hormone Research Unit of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, before joining the Viscogliosi Molecular Genetics Laboratory, first as Fellow and then as research associate.

Dr. Akoume is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of molecular biology and genetics at Université des Sciences de la Santé de Libreville (Gabon), while keeping collaboration with Viscogliosi Laboratory. She is co-inventor in several patents, co-author of high impact publications and recipient of various awards.

The main interests of Dr. Akoume’s research focus on understanding the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in different pathophysiological contexts. Her work has revealed a differential impairment of Gi-mediated signaling among patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and provided the first evidence for the hereditary nature and prognostic value of this defect. She also works on drug discovery using natural products as therapeutic tools with a combination of in vivo, in vitro, and molecular approaches.