Hervé Falet, Ph.D.

Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Harvard Medical School
One Blackfan Circle
Karp Family Research Building, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02115

Tel 617 355 9013
Fax 617 355 9016
hfalet@rics.bwh.harvard.edu

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Research Overview
Our primary research interests are associated with platelet signaling and survival. We use mouse models lacking regulatory or actin-binding proteins, i.e. Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASp), WASp-interacting protein (WIP), and filamin A (FlnA).

WASp is the protein mutated or absent in Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, a X-linked hematopoietic disorder that is characterized by immunodeficiency, eczema and severe thrombocytopenia. WASp constitutively associates with WIP in platelets. Both WASp- and WIP-null mouse platelets are cleared rapidly from the circulation when transfused into wild-type recipients.

FlnA, encoded by the FLNA gene on the X-chromosome, cross-links actin filaments and is a scaffold for signaling intermediates and membrane proteins, i.e. the GPIb subunit of the von Willebrand factor receptor in platelets. FLNA mutations have been associated with Periventricular Heterotopia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and familial cardiac valvular dystrophy. FlnA deficiency is embryonic lethal in hemizygous male mice due to pericardial and visceral hemorrhage. Heterozygous female mice are born, but experience premature mortality. A conditional knockout for platelet FlnA was developed by breeding FlnA loxP mice with GATA-1 Cre mice. FlnA-null mice have a severe thrombocytopenia with large platelets due to increased platelet clearance.

About Hervé Falet
Hervé Falet received his master’s and doctoral degrees from Paris René Descartes University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He joined the Department of Medicine faculty at Harvard Medical School in 2001. His area of expertise includes platelet biology and cell signaling in platelets and immune cells. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.


Postdoctoral Position
A postdoctoral position is available in our lab to study the clearance mechanisms of WASp-, WIP- and FlnA-null platelets using cell biology, physiology, and mouse models. Candidates must have a PhD and/or MD, solid writing skills and the ability to work independently. Experience with platelets preferred. Please send curriculum vitae, research summary, and three reference letters to Hervé Falet (hfalet@rics.bwh.harvard.edu).