After a Chemical Engineer diploma (ENSSPICAM, Marseille - 1993), followed by a PhD thesis (1994-1997) on the interfacial inhibition studies of human pancreatic and gastric lipases by enantiopure alkylphosphonates; I spent two years' post-doctoral research positions in medicinal chemistry. During this period I worked successively on anti-cancer agents derived from retinol and nitrogen mustards (Univ. Montpellier - 1998-1999); and on a new family of aminopyrazine derivatives analogous of Coelenteramine as antioxidants (Univ. Catholique de Louvain, Belgium -  1999-2000).

During the next 7 years, I worked in fine chemical and pharmaceutical companies under cGMP and GLP compliance. Among main achievements, I performed the development, optimization and process validation of 3 generic drugs as ready to use infusion solutions; and I was involved in two phase III clinical trials on severe pancreatic insufficiency.

Then, from October 2008, I reached a CNRS permanent position (CR1) in Marseille.

My main research interest is now focused on the development and use of (Ser/Cys)-based enzyme inhibitors against human mycobacterial-related diseases, including Cystic Fibrosis (i.e., M. abscessus) and tuberculosis (i.e., M. tuberculosis). Identifying such inhibitors will provide major information that will undoubtedly lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for elimination of actively growing and/or latent bacilli from infected individuals.

​

With an extensive experience in both academic and industrial research, I have thus acquired expertise in three important areas: organic/medicinal chemistry, biochemistry/enzymology, and in the concepts and needs of pharmaceutical industry (process development & industrialization, project management...).

All this allowed me to take the lead coordination of studies involving (Ser/Cys)-based enzyme inhibitors against mycobacterial-associated infections.