19 March 2025 – Myrielle Dupont-Rouzeyrol was elected an EMBO Member in 2024 and is the first from the French territory of New Caledonia. We spoke with her about the importance of her research to public health.
What drives you as a scientist?
My research focuses on arboviruses, and more specifically on mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue fever, Zika and chikungunya. These diseases are endemoepidemic in New Caledonia and have been the cause of regular epidemics for the past twenty years. Part of my work focuses on viruses and their interaction with and its interaction with the human host, as well as for example in connection with the World Mosquito Program which is an initiative dedicated to understanding the interactions between Wolbachia bacteria and mosquito microbiota. The Wolbachia bacterium prevents the transmission of arboviruses, and the aim of this program is to obtain, by mating wild mosquitoes and mosquitoes infected with this bacterium, a population of mosquitoes incapable of transmitting arboviruses. Another concrete example is the work we carried out when the Pacific region was the first to be affected during the last major Zika epidemic in 2014. Zika became a major issue when we realized that the virus could cause neurological damage in infants as well as other problems in pregnant women. We began by setting up diagnostic screening, but the PCR tests we were using were not proving effective in detecting the virus. We then started working on alternative sampling methods and demonstrated that urine samples gave better results than blood samples. This detection method was then adopted worldwide as the epidemic spread to other regions, and for me, as a native of New Caledonia, it’s extremely gratifying to be able to work on pathogenic diseases that have a major impact on my country of residence. This is also what motivates me to pursue a career in science. Even though the projects may be technically challenging, they are rewarding and allow us to interact with the society around us.
What role does your institute play in New Caledonia and the wider Pacific?
The Institut Pasteur of New Caledonia has long been committed to supporting public health initiatives in the region. Health is one of New Caledonia Government’s core competencies, and we collaborate extensively with public health authorities on various aspects, including infectious diseases, as well as with the Territorial Hospital Centre of New Caledonia (CHT). The close partnerships with the local health authorities allow the development of translational research programs. These collaborations are both local and regional: the scientific questions we raise can also be deployed in neighbouring countries. For example, we have a long-standing history of collaboration with Vanuatu, providing support to public health laboratories during the 2017 Pacific Mini Games to help diagnose and monitor diseases. We also conducted a survey in New Caledonia and Vanuatu to learn more about the pathogens to which our populations are exposed. We were delighted to learn that our work was then taken up by the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to better understand the infectious diseases’ impact.
What is the current state of life sciences in New Caledonia?
Our situation in New Caledonia is relatively different from that in mainland France, since, as mentioned earlier, research is a state responsibility and health is a responsibility that depends on New Caledonia. This places us at Institut Pasteur of New Caledonia in a dual affiliation, which is why it’s important to be able to answer the questions posed by our health authorities. Biological research on an island is both complicated and satisfying. Complicated because we’re remote and isolated, and where one team in mainland France can get reagents in three days, it can take us up to six months to get them. You learn a lot working on an island – imagine the stock of plastic we can have in our lab to last six months of cultivation! My colleagues are also often the sole local experts in their scientific fields without a local network to rely on. However, I see this as an opportunity that pushes us to connect with other institutes and establish partnerships. We are part of the global Pasteur Network spanning 25 countries across five continents and we collaborate with the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the University of New Caledonia, both of which have a global reach. Additionally, we have successful international collaborations with Australia and New Zealand despite the language barrier. We have our own specificities, and when working in the Pacific region, it’s important to team up and join forces. This proximity is pleasant in the sense that we can exchange and precisely define our questions to participate in improving the health of New Caledonians and health research for New Caledonians.
What advice would you give about enjoying a successful career in the life sciences?
When aiming for a successful career in the life sciences, prioritize national or international mobility and seek training outside your home country. The EMBO Fellowships and other progammes are ideal opportunities for this. I always encourage my students to explore other scientific methods and techniques by leaving New Caledonia and gaining new experiences elsewhere. Many researchers tend to doubt their skills and competencies, and I had similar uncertainties when I was elected as an EMBO Member. However, having a mentor to support and guide you can be incredibly valuable. It’s important to be open to conversations and connections without putting up barriers, and to embrace opportunities without hesitation. Training in different locations and cultures not only benefits researchers personally, but also strengthens research conducted in institutes and allows researchers to contribute their unique scientific perspectives.
