Research Visit to Montpellier: Strengthening Collaborations in Genomic Data Science

A Warm Welcome to Montpellier, France

In July 2025, I was delighted to receive a France Excellence-NUI Research Residency award to spend three weeks in Montpellier with colleagues at the Laboratoire d’Informatique, Robotique et Microélectronique de Montpellier (LIRMM). I was hosted by Dr Laurent Bréhélin and Dr Charles Lecellier, whose teams — the Machine Learning for Regulatory Genomics (ML4RegGen) and Methods and Algorithms for Bioinformatics (MAB) — are world leaders in computational genomics.

Advancing Genomics Together

Our collaboration focuses on the genetics of neurodevelopmental conditions with a special emphasis on tandem repeat expansions (TREs). During the visit, we explored computational strategies for analysing TREs in relation to sleep in autism. I also presented in the MAB seminar series “Genetic Connections: Understanding Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Neurodevelopmental and Neuropsychiatric Conditions” and worked closely with Dr Charles Lecellier’s team including Elliot Butz (Charles and Elliot pictured), Christophe Vroland, Mathilde Robin and Julian Raynal.

Meeting Inspiring Researchers

A highlight was connecting with researchers across Montpellier, including:

• Dr Freddy Jeanneteau (Group Leader of Team AVENIR INSERM at the Institut de genomique fonctionnelle)

• Professor Yves Dauvilliers (Professor of Neurology and Physiology, the Head of the Sleep Laboratory, and the Director of the Sleep Disorders Centre at the Gui de Chauliac Hospital.)

• Professor Giacomo Cavalli (a Director at the Institut de Génétique Humaine (IGH) within the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Montpellier in France, leader of the Chromatin and Cell Biology team)

• Dr Kevin Yauy (Associate Professor of Medicine (MCU-PH), Head, GenAI Lab)

• Dr Sophie Lèbre (IMAG & LIRMM)

These exchanges opened doors for collaboration, future funding and postgraduate training.

“With Dr Freddy Jeanneteau, Research Director at Institute of Functional Genomics, CNRS, I was so thrilled to discuss reigniting a proposal with mutual colleague Professor Louise Gallagher – very important research to do!”

“It was a real pleasure to visit Professor Dauvilliers’s sleep laboratory at the Sleep Disorders Centre, Department of Neurology, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, University of Montpellier. I was so impressed by the depth and creativity of the research activity on display – what a busy lab and I especially loved the posters!"

“It was a real honour to spend time with Professor Giacomo Cavalli – a member of the French Academy of Sciences and ERC Awardee  – at the Institute of Human Genetics.  Thank you for the inspiring conversation and the delicious coffee!”

Reflections & Thanks

As I shared on LinkedIn:

“Thank you very much for such a warm welcome to LIRMM University of Montpellier. I feel very fortunate to have met such amazing researchers, to have had such an incredible learning experience and to have so many ideas now! Thank you very much to the Embassy of France in Ireland. It really was a very eye-opening experience and I hope will inspire so much more research for me into the future. That’s the plan at least – onwards!”

A big thank you to the Embassy of France in Ireland for supporting this mobility and for helping to strengthen links between our two countries.

✨ This visit was eye-opening, inspiring and productive. It has strengthened the ties between Maynooth University and The University of Montpellier, laid the foundation for co-authored publications, research proposals, doctoral training and shown how international collaboration can spark new ideas in genomic science.