The aims of my current studies are to investigate the effects of aging and light spectrum modulation on circadian rhythms and sleep. I am also working on a new ophthalmologic system to quantify the gradual ocular lens yellowing.
I am interested in non visual consequences of blindness, studies involving imaging techniques (fMRI, OCT,), vision and sleep research, circadian, sleep and cognitive alterations following neurodegenerative diseases.
I am currently looking for a Post Doctoral position.
Other Positions
PhD student’s representative in the board of the Doctoral School “Ecole Doctorale Neurosciences et Cognition” / University of Lyon, Lyon – France
Professional Societies
“European Biological Rhythms Society” (EBRS), member
“Société Francophone de Chronobiologie” (SFC), member
Awards
-Research Grant of 30 000 € given by the French Federation of the Blind and Visually Handicapped “FAF”, (10th of October 2011)
-Research Grant of 30 000 € given by the French Society of Medical Sleep Research “SFRMS”, (grant declined)
-Short Oral Communication Prize at the XII. Congress of the European Biological Rhythms Society “EBRS” August 20-26, 2011, Oxford, UK
-Travel grant awarded by the French Chronobiology Society ‘SFC’ to attend the XII. European Biological Rhythms Society Congress August 20-26, 2011, Oxford, United Kingdom
-Travel grant given by the ESRS ‘European Sleep Research Society’ scientific committee to attend the XI. Congress of the ESRS, Lisbon – Portugal, September 14 – 18, 2010)
-SFC Grant to attend the XI. Congress of the European Biological Rhythms Society, August 22-28, 2009, Strasbourg, France
-Poster Prize at the XI. Congress of the European Biological Rhythms Society, Rank: 1st/223
-Competitive Research Grant Awarded by the french ministry “Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Français”, ”Ecole Doctorale Neurosciences et Cognition”, Lyon – France, Rank: 1st/21
- Graduate Assistantship attributed by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB) , July 2007 (Grant declined)
-Honor Award, 1st/78 in the course of General Physiology (A205), Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences II, Fanar, Metn – Lebanon
Trainings
-fMRI training (collaboration FRSQ/INSERM), Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM), Montreal, Canada (March 6 –April 4, 2011)
-MRI safety measures at the UNF (Functional Neuroimaging Unit), Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM), Montreal, Canada
(March 15, 2011)
-Statistics training (Variance analysis) organized by the Doctoral School NSCo (November 23 - 25, 2010)
-Lyon 1 University professional module – “Writing a Scientific Paper in English”, Lyon (April 21 – 23, 2010)
-Melatonin radioimmunoassay training at Bühlmann AG Laboratories, Schönenbuch, Switzerland (November 8 – 15, 2009)
-Participant in the 18th EUCLOCK European Summer School for Chronobiology, Krakow – Poland (July 2009)
-Training for one month in microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, transfusion and immunology at the Laboratory of “Sacré Coeur Hospital”, Hadath – Lebanon, (August 2006)
-Training for eight days in Cytogenetics and Molecular biology at the Laboratory of Genetics of the Chronic Care Center, Hazmieh – Lebanon (July 2006)
Scientific production
Publications
Najjar R, Claustrat B, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Altered spectral sensitivity to light in the elderly: an effect of lens opacification? Journal of Sleep Research 2010, Volume 1, Supplement 1, 55, Abstract
Gronfier C, Wolf L, Schlangen L, Najjar R, Taillard J, Cajochen C. The Concordia Antarctic Project, Journal of Sleep Research 2010, Volume 1, Supplement 1, 38, Abstract
Daneault V, Vandewalle G, Najjar R, Mongrain V, Dumont M, Hébert M, Carrier J. "Age-related changes in circadian rhythms during adulthood', 2011, Encyclopedia of Sleep Edited by Clete A. Kushida, M.D., Ph.D., RPSGT, Elsevier, Oxford
Najjar et al. ‘Altered non-visual sensitivity to light in the elderly: effect of lens opacification?’ (In preparation)
Najjar et al. ‘An Improved Flicker Photometry Technique to Measure the Ocular Lens Density’ (In preparation)
Najjar et al. ‘Non-visual consequences of chronic exposure to white and blue enriched white light’ (In preparation)
Oral communications
Najjar, RP, Teikari, P, Cornut, P-L, Claustrat, B, Denis, P, Cooper, H M, Gronfier, C. Aging of non-visual sensitivity to light: compensatory mechanisms. XII European Biological Rhythms Society (EBRS) Congress, August 20-26, 2011, Oxford, United Kingdom
Najjar R, Non-visual photoreception in Humans: circadian consequences of light spectrum modifications’, Conférence au Centre d’études avancées en médecine du sommeil Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, 22 mars 2011, Montréal, Canada.
Najjar R, Teikari P, Claustrat B, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Circadian photoreception and Aging, Journée Scientifique de l’Ecole Doctorale Neurosciences et cognition, 3 Novembre 2010, Lyon, France
Najjar R, Claustrat B, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Altered spectral sensitivity to light in the elderly: an effect of lens opacification? 20th Congress of the ESRS, September 14-18, 2010, Lisbon, Portugal
Gronfier C, Najjar R, Cooper HM. The influence of light on circadian rhythms and sleep in the elderly. International Meeting Aging and Sleep 2010, June 25-26, 2010, Lyon – France
Najjar R, Cornut PL, Claustrat B, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Non-visual sensitivity to light in the elderly: Aging of the ocular lens? 42ème Congrès Annuel de la Société Francophone de Chronobiologie, September 8 -11, 2010, Nice, France
Najjar R, Claustrat B, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Effects of Aging on Circadian Photoreception in Humans, EUCLOCK Summer School, July 11-24, 2009, Krakow – Poland
Poster Presentations
Najjar R, Teikari P, Claustrat B, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C Aging of non-visual sensitivity to light: compensatory mechanisms? Gordon Conference on Chronobiology, June 12-17, 2011, Lucca, Italy
Najjar R, Claustrat B, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Spectral sensitivity of melatonin suppression in the elderly. Society for Research on Biological Rhythms Meeting (SRBR), May 22-26, 2010, Sandestin FL, USA.
Najjar R, Claustrat B, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Diminished Circadian Sensitivity to Light in the Elderly: Aging of the Ocular Lens? XI European Biological Rhythms Society (EBRS) Congress, August 22-28, 2009, Strasbourg, France
Najjar R, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Diminished Circadian Sensitivity to Light in the Elderly: Aging of the Ocular Lens? EUCLOCK Summer School, July 11-24, 2009, Krakow - Poland
Najjar R, Claustrat B, Cornut PL, Denis P, Cooper HM, Gronfier C. Diminished Circadian Sensitivity to Light in the Elderly: Aging of the Ocular Lens? 3rd EUCLOCK annual meeting, January 24-28, 2009, Frauenchiemsee – Germany
Teaching Experience
-Visual electrophysiology 3h course in the Low Vision University Diploma for 15 Orthoptists and Ophthalmologists. Orthopty school Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (November 25, 2010 and November 25, 2011)
-Anatomy of the Visual System 18h course for 30 first year students in orthopty. Orthopty school, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (October, November 2011)
-Genetic 10h course for 32 second year students in orthopty. Orthopty school, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (February, March 2011)
