Renée Douville

Renée Douville is a neurologist known for her groundbreaking research on the role of ancient viral genes, specifically retrotransposons, in neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease. Her observations in 2008 led to the discovery of viral proteins present in the brains of ALS patients, despite them having no prior viral infections. Douville's work focuses on understanding how reactivated retrotransposons could contribute to neuronal degeneration and inflammation, potentially opening new avenues for treatment.