Dr. Plun-Favreau received a degree in cellular biology and immunology at the University of Angers and Poitiers (France). After graduating in 1999, she started research in INSERM U564 in Angers, where she completed a doctorate in cell signalling biology studies entitled “Molecular and functional determination of new cytokines of the IL-6 family” in 2002. Dr Plun-Favreau then joined the Cancer Research UK as a post-doctoral fellow in London where she carried out research into the HtrA2/PINK1 interaction and its implications in Parkinson’s disease. Helene was awarded an MRC career development fellowship in 2007 at the Institute of Neurology where she is investigating the signalling pathways associated with Parkinson’s disease.