MATWIN relies on a tight operational team, fully dedicated to its partners and supported project leaders
Current Managing Director of Gustave Roussy, a specialist in lung cancer, precision medicine, and cancer immunology, Professor Fabrice Barlesi is internationally recognized. Author and co-author of over 400 scientific articles that have been featured in international peer-reviewed journals, Professor Barlesi has been awarded numerous prizes including the prestigious Heine H. Hansen Prize by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). He is one of the most influential researchers in the world (Highly cited researchers of the Web of Science Group).
In 2009, he created the Multidisciplinary Oncology and Therapeutic Innovations Department of the North Marseille Hospital (AP-HM). Then, in 2011, the Center for Early Trials in Cancerology in Marseille (CLIP2), two structures that he directed until 2020. He is co-founder of Marseille Immunopôle, a public–private French immunology network, which aims coordinate immunological expertise in the Aix-Marseille metropolitan area. As part of this initiative Professor Barlesi leads the Pioneer Project, a major international research programme with the objective of improving our understanding of resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy in lung cancer and preventing and overcoming it.
Lucia Robert has over 20 years of professional experience linked to the promotion of research results. With a good knowledge of the health innovation ecosystem and technology transfer stakeholders, she has been managing the MATWIN platform for almost 15 years as well as all industrial and institutional partnerships.
Through multidisciplinary leadership experience in both the private and public sectors, Lucia has developed recognized expertise in the management of transfer activities and public-private partnerships. After heading up the technology transfer office of the University of Bordeaux, Lucia then put her skills and her network to work for the City of Bordeaux to promote higher education and innovation, then she became CEO of MATWIN in 2010 and coordinated the transformation of MATWIN into a local experimentation into an international cancer-focused open-innovation platform.
Doctor in cellular and molecular interactions, Boutaina DAHER was able to develop her scientific and transversal skills by supporting oncology research. After a thesis at the Monaco Scientific Center on pancreatic cancer, she did a postdoc at the CNRS on glioblastoma. Subsequently, she completed her scientific skills by supporting oncology researchers and clinicians by joining the Canceropôle PACA at the beginning of 2023. She recently joined the team as an innovation officer where she is in charge of operational monitoring and development. of the MATWIN program and support for project leaders. She also supports the development of the OncoSTART consortium.
Suzanne Hecquet is an experienced Office & HR Manager with over 8 years of experience in fast-paced startup environments. She has held key roles in human resources, accounting, office management, and strategic partnerships. Bilingual in English, Suzanne brings both operational efficiency and a strong focus on team well-being. She is currently studying psychology to enhance her human-centred leadership approach.
Beyond its operational team, MATWIN surrounds itself with a network of experts to support each project. The specific skills of each of these experts make it possible to meet the very different needs of the projects supported by MATWIN.
Dr. Avenard is Board member or adviser for several companies and Chief Executive Officer of G1J-IDF, a seed venture fund in Life Sciences. From 1997 to 2010, he served as Chief Operating Officer of BioAlliance Pharma SA (BIO – NYSE-EURONEXT) since he co-founded the company. From 1990 to 1997, Dr. Avenard served as Medical Director of Development in the Cassenne Laboratories division of Hoechst Marion Roussel (Sanofi-Aventis Pharma).From 1976 to 1990, Dr. Avenard held various positions with the National Blood Transfusion Center in Paris, including Medical Director of Bio-Transfusion (LFB), providing human plasma products. He has also served as a physician in hemobiology and blood transfusion at the Blood Center of Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital in Paris. Dr. Avenard received his MD as well as degrees in hematology and hemobiology & blood transfusion from the School of Medicine at the University of Paris V. He is currently member of the Biotech Working Group at LEEM (pharmaceutical French trade association). He is also expert for Research Tax Credit at the Ministry of Research.
- MD-PhD specialized in gastroenterology and oncology with 15 years’ experience in people management and healthcare product management.
- Hepato-Gastroenterologist in France during 15 years & member of French Gastro Intestinal Societies (SFED, FFCD)
- Always operating in Personalized/Precision Medicine landscape
- Experience in clinical development (early to late clinical development, Phase 0 to Phase IV), training and education
- Expertise on consulting activities: Medical & business strategies for oncology focused biotechnologies
- Executive MBA HEC Paris (Major: Services. Center for Services Leadership Arizona State School of Business; Phoenix, AZ)
- Keen on cutting-edge science
- Extensive European Oncology network
- Field and Marketing experience
- Great knowledge of targeted therapies in Oncology and Hematology
- Expertise in Diagnostic tools (Companion tests, biomarkers, Genomic)
- Leadership and entrepreneurial focused
Jean-Yves Bonnefoy is CEO of Anagenesis Biotechnologies since January 2014. He is also President of the Life Sciences Competitiveness Cluster, Alsace BioValley, Board member of biotech companies Anagenesis and SILABE and of the engineer school ESBS. He is a member of the scientific advisory board of iTeos Therapeutics and Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers. He is also member of the investment committee of the TTO, SATT Conectus. Before Anagenesis Biotechnologies he co-founded Transgene Spin-off, ElsaLys Biotech. He was for 8 years VP, R&D of Transgene SA. From 2002 to 2005, he launched and managed the Canceropole Lyon Rhône-Alpes. From 1992 to 2002, he headed the Centre d’immunologie Pierre Fabre. From 1998 to 2002, he was Director of the Immunology Department of the Glaxo-Wellcome Institute in Switzerland. From 1985 to 1987, he was scientist at the Research Centre of Schering-Plough in France. He is author and co-author of more than 200 publications and reviews (H-index 55-30-13). Jean-Yves holds a PhD in Immunology, a “Thèse 3ème cycle” in Biochemistry and followed the Senior Management Program of the London Business School, in the UK.
Sandrine Courtès, PhD, MBA is a consultant and transitional operational manager in biotech development at at Lab2Biotech. With over 20 years of experience in R&D and early stage biotech development she specializes in neuroscience, oncology, and drug discovery. Driven by scientific excellence and a commitment to improving patients’ quality of life, she combines a fresh strategic perspective with hands-on R&D and business development (BD) support, balancing ambition with risk awareness.
Sandrine has held executive/founder roles in over 4 startups and is now dedicated to Lab2Biotech. Her mission is to support inventors and founders transforming promising drug discoveries into preclinical drug candidates with optimal patient’s impact and market potential while securing the startup’s key assets and development strategy.
Her expertise spans small molecules, peptides, and targeting technologies, with a strong focus on neuro-oncology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize drug positioning.
Dr. Thérèse Croughs has more than 20 years of experience in clinical development and regulatory affairs. She has worked in companies of varying sizes and clinical stages of development in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries in Europe, North America and Asia.
Thérèse Croughs began her career in the pharmaceutical industry at Bayer, where she worked on protocol definition and the conduct of several clinical trials, as well as the registration of several products, including r-FVIII in hemophilia. A. After 10 years at Bayer, Thérèse joined the Novo Nordisk team as International Medical Advisor for the clinical development in Europe of r-FVIIa for the treatment of severe bleeds. Thérèse Croughs continued her career at BioAlliance Pharma, where she held the position of Director of the Adhesive Technology and New Business Unit and Director of European Regulatory Affairs. More recently and for more than 6 years, Thérèse Croughs was the Medical Director of Cytheris where she was in charge of regulatory strategy and international development of the IL-7 immunotherapy program (r-hIL-7, a factor growth of the immune system). Thérèse Croughs is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Louvain – Brussels, Belgium. Since 2015, she is Chef Medical Officer for NEOVACS.
Marina ICHÉ is a recognized expert in clinical and regulatory development strategy, specialized in oncology and early-stage development. With nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and as the founder of ILife Consulting, Marina advises biotech executives in France and Europe, providing her expertise on regulatory affairs, clinical operations, quality assurance and fundraising.
Her background includes managing complex international projects, regulatory submissions to agencies (FDA, EMA) and supervising clinical trials for numerous oncology indications in pharma as well as in various biotechnology companies. Before founding ILife Consulting, Marina led the clinical evaluation and development of a portfolio of biotechnology companies for a private fund, supervising Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance of the companies within this fund.
Jonathan Kearsey is Managing Director and co-founder of Leads To Development (L2D), a drug development consultancy established in 2009. With over 25 years’ experience, he has guided numerous early-stage research projects through to pre-clinical and clinical development. His expertise covers a wide range of drug development areas, including small molecules, biologics and cell-based therapies. Jonathan obtained a PhD in Oncology from the University of London and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Oxford University. He then spent nearly a decade overseeing the development of oncology products for biotech companies in France and Belgium, gaining substantial drug development and regulatory experience. Under his leadership, L2D has supported the development of over 170 projects from target discovery to market launch, demonstrating Jonathan’s in-depth understanding of the entire drug development and regulatory landscape.
– Oncology – Hematology Business Unit Manager in France ( Marketing and Sales with 250 people and 960 Mio € turnover )
– Global experience as Life Cycle Leader (LCL) acting as “General Manager “ of a biologic brand / Franchise
– Expertise in the fields of Marketing, Sales and Management
– Extensive knowledge of the hospital field and different therapeutic areas (Oncology , Immuno oncology ,Hematology, Genomic Profiling ,Hemophilia, Neurology(MS), rheumatology, Auto Immune disease, anemia, transplantation, nephrology, infectious diseases…) High level of involvement in the commercial approach (hospital tenders)
Marc Martin holds a PhD in Neurovirology and Pharmacology from Pierre et Marie Curie University. He began his professional career as a scientific assessor of the virological risks of biologicals and as an expert of the risk of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in adhoc EMA expert group.
He was the head of the onco-hematology products assessment Dpt. He set up the early phase clinical trials team and reorganized the early access programs to innovative medicines. He was strongly involved in authorization and innovation policies with a particular attention to favorizing clinical research.
He has over 20 years of experience in the regulation of health products.
Marc MARTIN is the founder of JASM-In, a SME counseling in the development of health innovations. He provides his regulatory and risk management expertise to Healthtech companies and administrations.
– More than 20 years experience in Strategy, Operations, Business Development in Pharma and Biotechs.
– Project coordination and development as Project director with Sanofi
– Set-up of a Biotech-like research insitute, from Business Model elaboration up to effective implementation
– Acting COO, CBO and Head BD
– Biotech consultancy: early stage projects positioning, market potentials, Operations, Business, acting CBO, acting COO, transactions, negotiations, alliance and key partnerships management, commercial license negotiation and management….
– Expertise in rare disease, gene therapy, oncology, diabetes and cardiovascular drug development from R&D to market.
– Member of Executive Committee in charge of Operations and Business Development in Biotechs.
Rémi is a seasoned scientist and R&D leader with 25+ years of experience in Biopharma/Biotech industry in Europe and North America. Based on his experience and passion for innovative medicines, he founded his consulting company, ImmThera Consulting SAS. Since then, he has been working for mature biotech, start-up, TTO, Biopharma, and CRO. Prior Immthera, he held the position of CSO at Genticel, a clinical stage Biotech focused on immunotherapy targeting oncogenic HPV. He had also developed an ADC at preclinical stage in solid tumors as CSO of Skymab Biotherapeutics. Prior his biotech experience, he led the development of innovative Biologics from discovery to late clinical stage at GSK for 18 years in the field of oncology and chronic disorders, eg. immune disorders. Through his career in R&D as well as during a brief time in commercial strategy in oncology at GSK, he developed a solid product vision and know-how in R&D of innovative drugs to move and translate discoveries into potential commercial assets.
Alain is an expert in oncology drug development. He has led clinical programs of chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy, biologics and live bacterial products in solid tumors and haematological malignancies from the translational and entry-into-man stages to IPO, both in the EU and the US. He has most recently been focused on immuno-oncology development targeting the tumor micro-environment, as well as protein-drug conjugates. His regulatory experience ranges from IND/IMPD-CTA submissions to drug approvals in oncology and rare diseases. Alain is based in France. He received his Medical Oncology certification from the National Cancer Institute, USA and his Medicine Doctorate from McGill University, Canada.
Thierry VERRECCHIA leverages his 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and the stock market by supporting the ecosystem of health technology startups.
Skills
• support startups in their fundraising journey
• ability to onboard large international multidisciplinary teams, including partnerships
• R&D expertise from the research stage to the advanced stage, including the CMC and interaction with regulatory agencies (FDA and EMA)
• skills with financial assessment tools and the pharmaceutical market, opportunity to successfully lead strategic thinking, market access, R&D strategy and business development vision
• ability to manage up to 50 M€ of budgets in various therapeutic areas
• audacity, adaptability, teamwork and leadership