Albert Bendelac, MD, PhD
  • Professor in the department of Pathology of the University of Chicago, investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
  • M.D. from University of Paris VI, France, 1995
  • Ph.D. in immunology from University of Paris VI, France, 1992.
   

Albert Bendelac characterized a type of T cell, called a natural killer T (NKT) cell. His findings pointed to a new role for T cells  indicating that NKT cells serve as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Albert Bendelac and his colleagues have been instrumental in showing that lipids and glycolipids have specialized functions in the immune system that are now being tied to autoimmune and infectious diseases, cancer, and vaccine development. Regarded as the intellectual leader of the nascent field of lipid-mediated immunity, Bendelac's work is at the frontier between immunology and the field of lipid biology. His research focuses on the membrane receptor family CD1, which captures intracellular lipids and glycolipids of self and foreign origin for presentation to T cells.

 


P.H. Lambert, MA, PhD
  • Chair Steering Committee of the European Consortium for the development of new tuberculosis vaccines (TBVAC).
  • Director International Advanced Course of Vaccinology (ADVAC).
  • Professor in the Centre of Vaccinology, University of Geneva.
  • MD from the University of Liege.
   
Paul-Henri Lambert is an internationally-renowned expert in vaccinology. As retired professor, he is associated with the Centre of Vaccinology at the University of Geneva. His particular interests are vaccination strategies and risk evaluation. He is chair of the Steering Committee of TBVAC, and directs the International Advanced Course of Vaccinology (ADVAC). Professor Lambert has held academic positions in the US and Europe and has also been Chief of Vaccine Research and Development, WHO Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunization. He is the author of over 400 publications.

 



Jean Bernard LePecq , PhD
  • CEO of Exothera LLD.
  • Ph.D., University of Paris VI, France, 1965.
  • Professor of Biochemistry, University of Paris VI.
  • Member of the French National Academy of Science. 2000.
   
Jean Bernard LePecq is founder of Anosys and Exothera (CA, USA). Previously, Jean Bernard LePecq was senior vice president and chief scientist in Rhone-Poulenc Rorer (now Sanofi). In this position, he played a key role in the creation and development of the Gencell Division. He was instrumental in the development of two successful products : Taxotere® for the treatment of cancer and Synercid. Prior to joining industry in 1989, Dr. LePecq had a long and illustrious academic career. He has authored more than 150 publications and has written a book on Cancer Chemotherapy.

 


Paul Savage , PhD
  • Professor and associate chair in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the Brigham Young University (Provo, Utha, USA).
  • PhD in Organic Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 1993.
   
Paul Savage is an expert in Chemistry, investigating the structural requirements of glycolipids for the stimulation of natural killer T cells via CD1d. He played a key role in the development of new amphiphilic antibiotics and the determination of the role of IgE-Fc receptor aggregation in histamine release. Ongoing areas of research are focused on lipid synthesis and the development of chemosensors for the detection of metal ions.

 


Luc Teyton , MD, PhD
  • Professor in the Department of Immunology at the Scripps Research Institute.
  • M.D. from University of Caen, France, 1980.
  • Ph.D. from University of Paris VI, France, 1987
   

Luc Teyton is an expert in the biochemistry of TCR and MHC molecules. His group determined the dual role of the invariant chain, the first structure of the T cell receptor and TCR/MHC complex, the first structure of the diabetogenic I-Ag7 molecule, the role of saposins in CD1 presentation and was involved in some pioneering work on MHC tetramers. Ongoing areas of research are focused on the molecular mechanisms of T cell activation, the molecular linkage between autoimmunity and MHC class II, the structure of innate immunity receptors, and the transport/uptake of glycolipid antigens to the immune system.

 


Marie Louise Michel , PhD
  • Director of Research in the Laboratory “Pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus”, Pasteur Institute, France
  • Ph.D. from University of Paris VII, France, 1985
   

Marie Louise Michel is co-inventor of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine produced in CHO cells (GenHevac B, commercialized by Aventis Pasteur). For her work on the hepatitis B vaccine, she received awards from the National Academy of Medicine (Novartis-Pharma Award in 1997 and Gallet-Breton Award in 2000). Since 1993, ML Michel performed pioneering studies on DNA vaccines for hepatitis B first in animal models and then during clinical trials. For this work she received the Saul Krugman Award on Viral Hepatitis, in 1996.  ML Michel is on the board of several scientific committees in France, has been member and Chairwoman of the hepatitis section of the ANRS funded agency in France. She is currently on the scientific committee of various agencies for scientific evaluation of grants and permanent position applications.