Aziz El-Emraoui, PhD
Dr. Aziz El-Amraoui is a senior scientist at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, where he leads the research unit Progressive Sensory Disorders: Pathophysiology and Therapy. After earning a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Lyon-I, he joined the Institut Pasteur and was appointed Associate Professor in 2008.
His work, conducted at the Institut de l’Audition and within the Institut reConnect, focuses on understanding and treating hereditary sensory disorders, particularly those affecting hearing and vision. He has made key contributions to the molecular understanding of inner ear and retinal function.
His research has led to the identification of several genes responsible for deafness and deaf-blindness, with a strong emphasis on Usher syndrome. His team develops and characterizes deep-phenotyped animal models to investigate disease mechanisms, progression, and therapeutic potential. In a translational approach, he also works on the development of gene delivery and therapy tools aimed at restoring sensory function. His scientific contributions have been recognized with several distinctions, including the Jean Valade Award, the Fondation de France Prize, the Charles Nicolle Chaire of Excellence, and membership in the Academia Europaea.
