When Carla Saleh arrived in France from Argentina aged 25 as a young scientist, she didn't speak a word of French. She now leads her own research unit at the Institut Pasteur.
Her goal is to make mosquitoes intolerant to viruses. She is passionate about science, determined to tackle all forms of inequality and discrimination, and always keen to encourage anyone – especially girls and women – with an interest in pursuing a scientific career.
Carla Saleh was born in Córdoba, Argentina. She was the second member of her family to go to university, after her older sister. Carla was interested in a wide range of subjects and found it hard to choose between literature, music and science. She just loved learning and studying. But when she was 17, she read an article in the magazine Muy Interesante about the Human Genome Project, the project to sequence all the DNA in human beings, and decided to study life sciences.
Genetics of tomatoes, cystic fibrosis and an unexpected move to Paris
It was at the National University of Córdoba, in Argentina, that Carla was given a first taste of cellular and molecular biology and genetics. She began by specializing in plant genetics and resistance to water stress in tomatoes! Then, for her second-year Master's, she worked on the development of a molecular diagnostic tool to observe and quantify a genetic mutation associated with cystic fibrosis in the population of Córdoba.
For her PhD, she initially planned to spend four years researching genetics and transposons in the brain – but after two years, her heart took her in another direction. Her significant other had accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in France and she decided to follow him.
When she got to Paris, she applied to continue her PhD but was unable to do so because there was no equivalence and her studies were not recognized. So she decided to join the Institut Pasteur and start a new PhD from scratch in Mario Zakin's laboratory. This time, her research focused on finding a potential treatment for brain degeneration.
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I was fascinated by that topic. We were trying to produce myelin, a substance in the brain that plays a key role in transmitting brain information. The research was inspiring because there were multiple potential therapeutic applications: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.
Tackling brain degeneration in a historical setting
Carla was fascinated by the atmosphere of this laboratory that was steeped in history. One of the lab chairs used to belong to Jacques Monod, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1965 in close collaboration with François Jacob.
"Every morning, I would bump into Georges Cohen, another scientist with a deep passion for his work, who had won multiple awards. My discussions with this remarkably humble man were hugely inspiring. He was passionate about science, and his enthusiasm was infectious."
After four years, Carla defended her thesis on the production and maintenance of myelin in the central nervous system. But the young scientist shared the impatience of families and patients: the research results were not coming quickly enough. She believed that if she studied immunology and virology, she would be able to find a new therapy more quickly.
Following her intuition... to California
For her postdoctoral fellowship, she joined Raul Andino's laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco. For six years, they studied viruses and innate immune responses. As a model organism they used Drosophila, a fly with no antibodies but a flexible immune system. Carla set out to elucidate all its mysteries – and ended up developing a passion for insects when she realized just how big an impact they have on the biodiversity of the planet.
Back to Paris, the city that had captured her heart
In 2008, she joined a five-year group at the Institut Pasteur, where she confirmed her research credentials. She launched her own unit, Viruses and RNA Interference, in 2013, and since then she has embarked on a number of ambitious projects, especially with the aim of making mosquitoes intolerant to viruses. The mosquitoes that serve as reservoirs for viruses like dengue, chikungunya and Zika are not bothered by them and do not develop any symptoms. They allow the pathogens to multiply in their body and transmit them to humans via their saliva.
Carla and her team are trying to modify a genetic and immune characteristic of infected mosquitoes so that they fall ill and are no longer able to transmit disease.
Involvement in scientific events and societal issues
Alongside her research, Carla is actively involved in scientific life on campus. She was elected to the Institut Pasteur's Scientific Council in 2017, and in 2021 she took part in workshops on gender equality in research. Inequality continues to be a problem in research, as it is in society at large. The representation of women at all levels needs to improve.
As a female scientist, I need to make my voice heard. Institutions have traditionally tended to be led by men, with a male viewpoint. It is time for female scientists to assert their values. Throughout my career, I have had to deal with discrimination on a daily basis, from men but also from women. For example, during a meeting with male colleagues, why is it automatically expected that I will be the one to take minutes? Because I'm a woman? If that's the reason, I point out that, objectively, I am not necessarily the most capable person for the task!
Geographical origins also continue to be a pretext for discrimination – for example, why are women from Latin America less represented in positions of power than women from English-speaking countries?
If we receive recognition for our work, why are we told that the reason is because there is a quota that needs to be met?
If we want the world to become fairer, we all need to examine ourselves and move forward. Education is crucial, and inclusion should enable all of us to live a better life.
Momentum for change
The arrival of a new female President at the Institut Pasteur raises hopes that things will keep moving in the right direction. At the beginning of 2024, at the initiative of Yasmine Belkaid, the Institut Pasteur established a new Department for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to ensure that these values play a central part in the Institut Pasteur's policy and strategy. Carla is continuing her efforts by getting involved in the Disability Office.
Carla's optimism, courage and willingness to speak out have served her well in carving out a place for herself in such a competitive international environment. She concludes with a broad smile:
Nothing is impossible for those who dare! What's stopping me from running for President? Nothing can stop me from achieving my dreams – our only limits are those we place on ourselves, wouldn't you agree?
Inequality by the numbers
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Although the proportions of male and female PhD students are virtually the same, there are fewer and fewer women towards the upper echelons of the career ladder. Women represent just 31% of professorial positions, compared with 69% of men. (2022 figures, Institut Pasteur) Gender equality continues to be an issue: 41% of women in the workforce have worked on a part-time basis for one or more years to care for another person (compared with 19% of men in the workforce). |
Key dates in Carla Saleh's career
Since 2020: Full Professor, Head of Viruses and RNAi Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Since 2019: Co-director of the LabEx "Integrative Biology of Emerging Infectious Diseases," France
2017-2023: Member of the Institut Pasteur Scientific Council, France
2013-2019: Associate Professor, Head of Viruses and RNAi Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
2008-2012: Assistant Professor, Group leader of Viruses & RNAi Group, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
2001-2007: Postdoctoral fellow, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), USA
1997-2000: PhD Student fellow, University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris 6), Paris, France
1994: Master in Biology, National University of Córdoba, Argentina
1993: Teacher in Biological Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Argentina
2022: Elected International Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH)
2020: Lucien Tartois Award from the Medical Research Foundation
2020: Elected EMBO Member
2014: Langevin Award from the French Academy of Sciences