Dr Jean Marie Delalande

Profile

Dr Jean Marie Delalande completed his PhD at the University of Rennes I (France) where he studied myogenic bHLH transcription factors, a group of genes acting as master transcriptional regulators of muscular development. He then took up several post-doctoral positions: at the Royal Free Hospital (UK), at the Institute of Child Health (UK) and at Emory University (USA). He also held a research-associate position at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City (USA).

Dr Jean Marie Delalande joined Queen Mary University of London (UK) as a Lecturer in 2014. He joined the Queen Mary Malta Medical School in 2018. Dr Delalande is a Reader in Medical Science. As Head of Phase 1 in Malta, he is responsible for leading the academic team to deliver and develop a high-quality curriculum equitable to that delivered in London. He contributes to the recruitment of the current academic team.

For Dr Delalande, the island of Gozo is the most beautiful place in Malta. He particularly enjoys the many water sports on offer; swimming, kayaking and scuba diving.

Teaching

I have been a fellow of the higher education academy (HEA) since 2016. During my PhD, I was an instructor in animal physiology for biology students at the University of Rennes I (France). I also was an instructor in biology laboratories for medical students at Emory University (USA), where I was teaching genetics, forensic science and developmental biology.

As part of the MBBS programme at Queen Mary, I am module lead for Metabolism Year 1 and 2 in Malta.

Research

Research Interests:

We all spend the first 40 minutes of our life as a single cell. The subsequent generation of a complex multicellular organism from this single cell is one of the most fascinating processes in biology. My research interest has been to study the harmonious interplay of signalling ensuring the embryo's peripheral nervous system develops normally. In particular, I have been studying the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS), which controls and regulates gut motility. My research focuses on the behaviour of neural crest cells (the cells which build up the ENS): how they migrate, connect and interact with other cell types in the embryonic gut. Studies of ENS development are of clinical significance since ENS defects result in commonly occurring gut disorders (including Hirschsprung disease, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and other motility defects) for which new therapies are needed.

I also use my knowledge of embryonic cell behavior to study cancer.