G. SandozLabBIOLOGY OF ION CHANNELS

Institut de Biologie Valrose · Nice, France

A new light on
neuronal
excitability.

We explore the ion channels that shape neuronal activity — and develop optical tools to understand how they change in disease and control their activity precisely when and where needed, taking advantage of the exceptional spatial resolution provided by a beam of light.

Explore our research Meet the team
A CLOSER LOOK / TREK1
Cultured hippocampal neurons expressing a photoswitchable TREK1 conditional subunit
Cultured hippocampal neuronsSandoz et al. · Neuron, 2012
Ion channel biophysics   /   Photopharmacology   /   Optogenetics↓

Selected journals

CellNeuronNature CommunicationsPNASEMBO Journal

Recognized byAcadémie des sciences
Académie nationale de médecine

01 / Our research

Small channels.
Big questions.

Two-pore-domain potassium (K2P) channels help set the resting potential and firing threshold of neurons. We study how these molecular gatekeepers work, how they change in disease, and how light can control their activity precisely when and where needed.

Global impact: K2P channels influence neuronal excitability, pain and cognition, from mouse models to human physiology
Mycolactone toxin silencing sensory neurons via AT2 receptor and K2P channels
01

Pain & migraine

How TREK/TRESK K2P assemblies set nociceptor excitability, and how they can be modulated — from a bacterial analgesic toxin to photoswitchable channel inhibitors that control pain in freely moving animals.

Neuronal firing trace during depolarization-induced shunting inhibition
02

Epilepsy & excitability

TRESK-dependent shunting inhibition and alternative translation initiation as mechanisms linking specific K2P mutations to neuronal hyperexcitability and seizure susceptibility.

Structure of a two-pore-domain potassium channel dimer
03

Channel structure & assembly

Defining native K2P homo- and heteromeric assemblies with single-molecule pulldown, and how auxiliary subunits and lipid signalling reshape channel composition and function.

Explore the science in more detailResearch overview, figures & experimental work
Photopharmacology acts on native channels, while optogenetics uses genetically encoded tools. SiMPull with TIRF imaging probes channel assemblies; patch-clamp and behavioral measurements link channel function to pain, migraine, epilepsy and learning.
VCR1 — a light-gated channel from a giant marine virus discovered in an Antarctic lake — hijacks calcium dynamics to drive muscle contraction on demand. Eria-Oliveira et al., Nature Communications (2024).
Cultured neurons expressing a photoswitchable TREK1 conditional subunit, used to optically control endogenous channel signalling. Sandoz et al., Neuron (2012).

Molecular discovery · Cell, 2021

One auxiliary subunit.
Two channel families.

KCNE1 bridges two unrelated ion channel superfamilies, inducing a voltage-dependent current in the calcium-activated chloride channel TMEM16A.

Explore the paper
Ávalos Prado et al., Cell (2021).
LAKI enables optical control of conserved pain pathways in C. elegans: 365 nm light triggers Omega-turn escape behaviour, reversed by 480 nm light. Landra-Willm et al., Nature Communications (2023).

Translational programme · Ionic

From TMEM16A biology
to useful tools.

The Ionic project extends our ion-channel work toward precise, reversible ways to understand and modulate excitability — connecting the molecular insight from our Cell study on TMEM16A to future applications.

Research in action

Remote control of nociceptive behavior with light

Watch the research in actionWatch on YouTube ↗Open on YouTube ↗

LAKI-induced pain behaviour (Omega turns) in C. elegans under 365 nm and 480 nm illumination — Landra-Willm et al., Nature Communications (2023).

02 / How we work

From molecules
to living systems.

Optical tools, electrophysiology and single-molecule imaging connect channel mechanisms to neuronal activity and behaviour.

Preparing an optical and recording setup
01Photopharmacology & optical control rigs
Automated patch-clamp perfusion system
02Automated patch-clamp & perfusion
Researcher at an inverted microscope for patch-clamp recording
03Whole-cell & excised-patch electrophysiology
Patch-clamp headstage and micromanipulators
04TIRF single-molecule imaging (SiMPull)

03 / Publications

Discoveries that advance
the conversation.

Our work appears in Cell, Neuron, Nature Communications, PNAS and EMBO Journal, with studies highlighted in journal commentaries and recognized by the scientific community.

60 peer-reviewed publications · Selected articles below

Selected papers below are led by the G. Sandoz Lab, with the team represented among the corresponding authors — including work in Cell and Neuron, three PNAS papers and three Nature Communications papers.

CellNeuronNature CommunicationsPNASEMBO
Journal

2009
Research article

Extracellular acidification exerts opposite actions on TREK1 and TREK2 potassium channels via a single conserved histidine residue.

Sandoz G, Douguet D, Chatelain F, Lazdunski M, Lesage F

PNAS 106:14628–14633 — Editors' choice, Science Signaling

See the full list on PubMed

From discovery to application

2023
LAKI-based method for reversible optical induction of nociception and analgesic screening WO2024126778A1 · 70% contribution
2021
N13 peptide — TMEM16A agonist increasing tear and airway surface secretion, for dry eye syndrome and cystic fibrosis WO2022008738A1 · 75% contribution
2019
TREK channel activation for migraine WO2019002548A1 · 55% contribution

04 / Our people

Different perspectives.
Shared curiosity.

Our team brings together ion channel biophysics, chemical biology, single-molecule imaging and behaviour at the Institut de Biologie Valrose in Nice.

The G. Sandoz lab team at the Institut de Biologie Valrose
The Biology of Ion Channels teamValrose, Nice, France

Current team

  • SF
    Sestina Falcone
    CRCN, Inserm
  • Arnaud Landra-Willm
    Arnaud Landra-Willm
    Postdoctoral researcher (CNRS); PhD 2019–2023 · Nature Communications, Cell Chem. Biol., Neurosci. Lett., iScience
  • Melaine Balcon
    Melaine Balcon
    Postdoctoral researcher
  • Aurore Caumont
    Aurore Caumont
    PhD candidate, 2025–present
  • Killian Douart
    Killian Douart
    PhD candidate, starting Sept 2026
  • Anaïs Osman
    Anaïs Osman
    Research Engineer
  • RS
    Raffaele Siccardi
    Master's student, University of Turin
AlumniThe people who helped shape our lab
  • Marion Bied
    PhD 2022–2026 · Nature Communications (2023, 2026)
  • Pablo Ávalos Prado
    Pablo Ávalos Prado
    PhD 2016–2021, Best PhD Thesis Award (Life Sciences Doctoral School, Université Côte d'Azur) · Cell, Neuron, iScience, Neurosci. Lett., The Neuroscientist
  • Perrine Royal
    PhD 2015–2019 · Neuron, PNAS, J. Gen. Physiol.
  • Yannick Comoglio
    PhD 2014–2017 · Cell, PNAS (×2)
  • Ana Sofia Eria-Oliveira
    Postdoc 2022–2025 · Nature Communications
  • Stéphanie Häfner
    Stéphanie Häfner
    Postdoc 2019–2021 · Nature Communications, Cell, Cell Chem. Biol., The Neuroscientist, Curr. Opin. Pharmacol.
  • Clément Verkest
    Postdoc 2020 · Neuron, iScience, The Neuroscientist
  • Céline Nicolas
    Postdoc 2013–2015 · eLife
Life at the labA few moments through the years
Lab members · Oxford, 2019
Oxford · 2019
The G. Sandoz lab team in 2021
The Biology of Ion Channels lab · 2021
G. Sandoz lab team in 2017
G. Sandoz lab team
G. Sandoz lab team

Principal investigator

Guillaume Sandoz

Guillaume
Sandoz, PhD

CNRS Research Director (DR1)
Biology of Ion Channels · iBV

ORCID profile

Understanding how neurons
integrate and transmit signals.

I am a CNRS Research Director (DR1) and Principal Investigator at the Institut de Biologie Valrose, Université Côte d'Azur (Nice). Back from Berkeley, I built up my lab in Nice thanks to the ATIP-Avenir program. My research combines molecular biology, chemical biology, and biophysics to understand neuronal excitability, ion channel assembly, and signal integration in health and disease, with a particular focus on pain and migraine. I have pioneered light-activated tools for the remote control of pain, analgesia, and muscle activity — work that has led to 60 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals (Cell, Neuron, Nature Communications, EMBO Journal, PNAS) and several patents with translational applications in pain management and biotechnology.

Career & trainingFrom Marseille and Berkeley to Nice
2013–present
CNRS Research Director (DR1); Principal Investigator, Biology of Ion Channels, iBV, Université Côte d'Azur
2013
Habilitation to supervise research (HDR), Université Côte d'Azur
2009–2012
Fulbright Visiting Scholar, Molecular & Cell Biology / Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley (Ehud Isacoff lab)
2004–2009
Postdoctoral researcher, then CNRS Chargé de Recherche, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne
2004
PhD in Neuroscience, Aix-Marseille University — presynaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels (advisor: Michel De Waard)
2000
Master in Neuroscience, Aix-Marseille University — valedictorian

05 / Peer recognition

Recognition from
the scientific community.

Academy awards, competitive research funding and commentary from fellow scientists.

Cell · 2021Our KCNE1 study was accompanied by the commentary Ion channel auxiliary subunit: does one size fit all? by Reuveny & Karbat.

Neuron · 2019Our TRESK and migraine study was highlighted in Neuron and recommended by F1000.

2024
French Academy of Sciences — Subvention Fondation Simone et Cino del Duca, €75,000 15 Oct 2024
2023
Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM) — Maturation Program Award, €148,000 over 2 years, for a dry-eye tear-secretion project
2022
French National Academy of Medicine — Prix Jansen
Earlier awards & fellowships
2017
FRM — "Équipe FRM" Award
2012
ATIP-Avenir grant — founded the Biology of Ion Channels lab
2009
Fulbright Award, USA
2009–10
Philippe Foundation Fellowship
2007
Prix Jean-Louis Parrot, AFAS

06 / Conversations

Sharing the science.

Selected from 40+ invited seminars and conference talks.

40th IUPS Congress · Frankfurt · 2025
FASEBFederation of American Societies
for Experimental Biology
FASEB · référence internationale en biologie expérimentale
EPHAR
Athens · 2024
FENS — Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
FENS Forum · Copenhagen, 2016
2025
40th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Frankfurt, 11 Sep 2025
2024
Federation of European Pharmacological Societies meeting (EPHAR) Athens, 25 Jun 2024
2024
2nd Young Group Leaders Symposium, FMP Berlin, 18 Mar 2024
More invited talks
2023
Ion Channel Modulation Symposium (ICMS Irvine 2023) Irvine, California, USA, 18 Oct 2023
2022
"Optical probing and control of Two-Pore-Domain potassium channel functions in pain and migraine" — Marthe-Vogt Seminar, invited by Johannes Broichhagen Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin, 21 Oct 2022
2022
FASEB The Ion Channel Regulation Conference Nova Scotia, Canada, 16 Aug 2022
2022
39th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) — invited speakerHosted by the Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences, China · Online, 7–11 May 2022
2019
"Migraine-associated TRESK mutations increase neuronal excitability through alternative translation initiation and inhibition of TREK" — ICMS Cambridge 2019, Clare College Cambridge, UK, 19 Jun 2019 · watch the talk
2018
49th NIPS International Symposium Osaka, Japan, 6 Dec 2018
2016
10th FENS Forum of Neuroscience Copenhagen, Denmark, 2–6 Jul 2016
2015
FEBS EMBO Conference Paris, France
Watch the research in actionWatch on YouTube ↗Open on YouTube ↗

"Migraine-associated TRESK mutations increase neuronal excitability through alternative translation initiation and inhibition of TREK" — recorded talk, ICMS Cambridge 2019

07 / In the media

From the lab
to the airwaves.

Hear Guillaume Sandoz discuss the science behind light-induced analgesia, and explore national coverage of the lab’s discoveries.

France Culture · Avec sciences

19 February 2026 · 5 min · In French

Des UV pour soulager la douleur des animaux de laboratoire

Guillaume Sandoz joins Alexandra Delbot to discuss the discovery of light-induced analgesia and its potential for animal research.

Listen on France Culture
All press & outreachCoverage and public engagement, 2012–2026
2026
Feature on Light-Induced Analgesia National Geographic France
2026
"Courants, canaux et migraines : le voyage électrique de nos neurones" Science et Société, Université Côte d'Azur, 7 Apr 2026
2026
« Des UV pour soulager la douleur des animaux de laboratoire » — Avec sciences — chronique France Culture, Radio France, 19 Feb 2026
2026
"Douleur : découverte d'une nouvelle piste thérapeutique grâce à la lumière" Les documents franceinfo, Radio France, 2026
2026
"Éteindre la douleur par la lumière ultraviolette" — by Marion Bied Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, 2026
2026
"Allumer la lumière pour éteindre la douleur chez les rongeurs" — by Guillaume Sandoz The Conversation France, Feb 2026
2026
"Allumer la lumière pour soulager la douleur : une découverte prometteuse" Université Côte d'Azur Newsroom, Feb 2026
2026
"La lumière a un effet anti-douleur chez le rongeur" La Marseillaise Week-end, 14–15 Feb 2026
2026
"La lumière seule fait mieux que certains antalgiques" Nice-Matin, 2026
2026
"La lumière UV pour éteindre la douleur chez le rongeur" Nice-Matin, Nancy Cattan, 2026
2026
"La lumière, nouvelle méthode antidouleur chez les animaux" France Info, 26 Jan 2026
2026
"La lumière, une alternative non invasive aux antalgiques" — press release CNRS, 26 Jan 2026
2025
"Les métiers de la recherche" — public talk, Lycée Jules Ferry 23 Jan 2025
2024
"Cordée de la réussite" — outreach programme 14 May 2024
2024
"La lumière pour télécommander la douleur et la contraction musculaire" — public conference, Villeneuve-Loubet 19 Apr 2024
2024
"Un interrupteur moléculaire pour contrôler la douleur par la lumière" Le journal des sciences, France Culture, 14 Mar 2024
2024
Actualité santé, p. 12–15 Monaco Hebdo, 10 Feb 2024
2024
"Télécommander la contraction musculaire par la lumière verte" Nice-Matin, 22 Jan 2024
2023
"L'interrupteur de la douleur" La Marseillaise Week-end, 25–26 Mar 2023
2023
La recherche de nouveaux antidouleurs dopée Nice-Matin · Nancy Cattan · Mar 2023
La recherche de nouveaux antidouleurs dopée — Nice-MatinRead the newspaper clipping +La recherche de nouveaux antidouleurs dopée — Nice-Matin
2022
"Neurologie : une nouvelle cible dans le traitement de la migraine" Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, 2 Jun 2022
2019
"A TREK to Translate Genetics to Mechanisms of Migraine" — preview Neuron (Cell Press), Jan 2019
2019
"Alternative Translation Initiation of TRESK Promotes Migraine" BrainPost, 2 Jan 2019
2019
"Discovery of Novel Mechanism that Causes Migraines" Neuroscience News, 17 Dec 2018
2019
"Migraine : une nouvelle cible thérapeutique" Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, 20 Jun 2019
2019
"On ouvre une nouvelle piste" : une étude porteuse d'espoirs pour les personnes qui souffrent de migraine" — video France Info, 19 Dec 2018
2019
Migraine mechanism study picked up by AFP wire and 60+ French & international outlets, including Le Monde, Les Echos, Europe 1, LCI, Sciences et Avenir and Science Daily Dec 2018 – Jan 2019
2018
Nice-Matin newspaper article about migraine, featuring Guillaume Sandoz and Perrine RoyalView full-size article +
Des chercheurs niçois découvrent l’une des causes de la migraineNice-Matin · · Nancy Cattan

Guillaume Sandoz and Perrine Royal, Institut de Biologie Valrose, present their research on migraine.

2012
"Des protéines pour produire de l'électricité" — dossier on the 2012 ATIP-Avenir laureates Nice-Matin, Jean-Michel Chevalier
Des protéines pour produire de l’électricité — Nice-MatinRead the newspaper clipping +Des protéines pour produire de l’électricité — Nice-Matin
2011
A Second Pathway for Antidepressants: Berkeley Lab Reports New Fluorescent Assay Reveals TREK1 MechanismBerkeley Lab News Center · 7 February 2011

Research by Guillaume Sandoz, Ehud Isacoff and Sarah Bell at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley on optical probing of TREK1 regulation.

Your next chapter

Bring your curiosity.
Let’s explore together.

Interested in ion channels, optical tools or neuronal excitability? We welcome motivated scientists who want to contribute to our research in Nice.

Get in touch sandoz@unice.fr
Nice-Matin · 18 December 2018 — View full-size articleNice-Matin, 18 December 2018: Des chercheurs niçois découvrent l’une des causes de la migraine
Research figure
LAKI-induced escape behaviour in C. elegans under different illumination conditions