Sanchez, Leopoldo

Leopoldo Sanchez is INRAE research director at the BioForA forest genetics research unit. His research focuses on optimising the genetic improvement process in wood-producing forest tree species, to make it more relevant to the environmental challenges that threaten the adaptation of varieties, more efficient by considering the different constraints that affect their performance, and by integrating the potential offered by genomic tools. He uses the tools of quantitative genetics, population dynamics modelling, statistics and genomics, and these tools have led him to explore various key aspects of genetic improvement, such as optimising genetic diversity management, incorporating plasticity traits into genetic evaluation, and adapting genomic and multi-omic selection to the forest tree model. He has made substantial contributions to the implementation of genomic selection in key species such as poplar and maritime pine in France, and in other forest species in the framework of several European initiatives on innovative selection. Prior to INRAE, he worked on different theoretical aspects of genetic diversity management, starting as a geneticist in Drosophila melanogaster. Today, he considers himself lucky to work with large trees, which are challenging models for experimental biologists.