Directors Committee
Prof Pierre
Soubeyran
BRIO Director Prof Pierre Soubeyran
Professor of Oncology
Inserm Research Director (U1312)
Director of Research of the Institut Bergonié
Pierre Soubeyran BRIO Director
Pierre Soubeyran, Director of BRIO, is a University Professor (University of Bordeaux) and specialised medical doctor at the Institut Bergonié’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CLCC) in the Medical Oncology Department in Bordeaux. He got his PhD in Medicine in 1989, his graduate diploma (DES) the same year and his PhD in Medical and Biological Sciences (Option: Biology – Health) in 1996. He is especially interested in non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, molecular biology and geriatric oncology.
Since 2013, he has been the director of BRIO (Bordeaux Integrated Cancer Research site). He is also Inserm Research Director in the U1312 BRIC unit, created in January 2022, as well as the director of research of the Institut Bergonié, and coordinator of the Oncosphère Nouvelle-Aquitaine project.
He belongs to several scholarly and professional societies, including: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO, since 2001), American Society of Hematology (ASH, since 1993), European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO, since 1990), European Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO, since 1987), International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG, since 2002).
He also holds several scientific positions: he has been a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the ‘Cancéropôle du Grand Sud-Ouest’ since 2007, member of the Strategic Committee and Technical Committee of the Data Processing Centre (CTD) for Bordeaux Clinical Trials in Cancerology, accredited by the French National Cancer Institute (INCa). Co-coordinator of the Coordination Unit in Geriatric Oncology (UCOG), accredited by the French National Cancer Institute. Co-coordinator of the Regional Thematic Groups “Haematological Malignancies” and “Geriatric Oncology” within the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Onco-Cancerology Network. Member of the Committee for Biomedical Research and Public Health (CRBS) at the Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU). Member of national or European boards of experts for various pharmaceutical laboratories focused on geriatric oncology (Chugai, Roche, Celgene, AMGEN).
Prof Alain
Ravaud
BRIO Deputy DirectorProf Alain Ravaud
Professor of Oncology
Director of the Oncology Department
Coordinator of Oncology, Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU)
Prof Alain Ravaud BRIO Deputy Director
Alain Ravaud is a medical oncologist at the Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU) and professor of cancerology at the University of Bordeaux. He is a member of Inserm Unit 1312 (Directed by Dr Frédéric Saltel). He is medical director of the Bordeaux CHU’s 3C and coordinated Bordeaux CHU’s Integrated Cancer Centre. On the regional level, he coordinates the graduate degree (DES) in oncology, and on the national level, he is responsible for coordinating the specialised interdisciplinary training in oncology (for interns).
He did his internship in Toulouse from 1982 to 1988, was the Assistant Chief Resident, then became a Cancer Centre practitioner at the Institut Bergonié from 1988 to 2002 before being appointed professor of cancerology at the Bordeaux CHU.
His interest is mainly focused on cancer of the kidneys and bladder, and its early stages. Most of his publications (Med pub: 260) deal with those topics.
He is a reviewer for international journals, in particular A-ranked ones.
He is a member of cooperative groups (GETUG: urologic tumours) and scholarly societies (ASCO, ESMO) as well as an editor for the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guidelines for bladder cancer care.
Prof Simone
Mathoulin-Pélissier
BRIO Deputy DirectorProf Simone Mathoulin-Pélissier
Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health
Director of ISPED (Bordeaux School of Public Health)
Pr Simone Mathoulin-Pélissier BRIO Deputy Director
Simone Mathoulin-Pélissier is a professor of Public Health and Epidemiology. After medical school in Marseille then Bordeaux, Simone Mathoulin-Pélissier continued with a master of advanced study (DEA) in public health intervention and epidemiology in 1994. She was appointed as a hospital practitioner at the Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CLCC) in 2002 and was accredited to direct research in 2006. In 2010, she became a University professor in epidemiology, health economics and prevention with a mission of patient care at the Institut Bergonié. She is currently the Medical Coordinator for the Department of Clinical Research and Innovation (DRCI), the doctor in charge of cancer research for the Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC1401) and head of the clinical epidemiology and research unit (UREC) that manages external sponsor trials as well as the trials developed by the Institut Bergonié (biostatistics, methodological support).
She teaches at the University of Bordeaux on the theme of cancer epidemiology as well as on the assessment of health initiatives and belongs to several learned societies (board of directors) such as Association of French-speaking Epidemiologists (ADELF), the French Sarcoma Group (GSF), and the French Society of Geriatric Oncology (SOFOG). She is also deputy director of the Life Science and Health Department at the University of Bordeaux and deputy director of SIRIC BRIO.
For research in epidemiology, since 2016 within the Inserm U1219 centre, she has developed activities leading to the creation of the EPICENE (EPIdemiology of Cancer and Environmental Exposures) team. Her research topics deal with health inequalities, prevention including screening, the elderly, the design of cancer trials and the etiology of certain cancers, including rare cancers.
Since October 2019, Professor Mathoulin-Pélissier has been the director of ISPED, Bordeaux School of Public Health.
Dr Julie
Déchanet-Merville
BRIO Deputy DirectorDr Julie Déchanet-Merville
Director of Research – CNRS
Director of UMR 5164
ImmunoConcEpT
Dr Julie Dechanet-Merville BRIO Deputy Director
Julie Déchanet-Merville is Director of Research at the CNRS. She presented her thesis in immunology at the University of Lyon in 1995. There, she studied the last stages of B cell differentiation in the Schering-Plough immunology research lab directed by Dr Jacques Banchereau. Then she worked in the field of immunology of human transplants on Jean-François Moreau’s team at the University of Bordeaux. In 1998, she was recruited as a Research Fellow at the CNRS and set up a research team specifically interested in the role of DC-SIGN and human gamma delta T cells in the cytomegalovirus infection. Her team discovered the antiviral role of those lymphocytes against human cytomegaloviruses and was a forerunner in the study of their function and antigenic specificity. Most of her research has involved close collaboration with the department of clinical transplants at the Bordeaux CHU and with national and international academic partners.
She currently heads a CNRS research team of approximately 50 members and a service unit at the University of Bordeaux (TBMcore). She develops fundamental and translational research focused on the functions of gamma delta T-cells in cancer, viral infections and organ transplants. Her research ranges from molecular analysis of gamma delta T cell antigens to the development of preclinical mouse models as well as the study of patient cohorts. She has developed technology for T cell culture, T-cell receptor protein analysis (TCR), monoclonal antibody production and antigen identification by TCR. She is involved in immunology training of basic science and medical students. She is a reviewer for international publications in immunology and for European medical research funding organisations.
Operational team
Nathalie
Caplet
Communication and patientinvolvement manager
Nathalie Caplet Communication and patient involvement manager
Nathalie Caplet is in charge of setting up, coordinating and monitoring communication actions, disseminating scientific knowledge, as well as developing the link with patients.
A University of Bordeaux graduate, she went on to complete her studies with a thesis in molecular microbiology in Bristol (UK) where she began to work on various projects in the field of scientific culture / communications. She then worked as a journalist for an international B2B magazine on the veterinary industry. Upon returning to France, she started out at Cap Sciences, Bordeaux’s Centre for Technical and Scientific Culture, as an editor and writer. She then held various positions at Cap Sciences: communications, international relations, in charge of scientific resources, organisation and coordinating events… At the same time, she worked as a freelancer, mainly writing articles for the veterinary industry, among others.
She was hired at BRIO in March 2016. Her work consists of communicating internally and externally to researchers, doctors, patients and the general public and connecting with them. She initiated and now accompanies ASPERON & Co (Associations and patients committed to research in oncology and the professional community). The collective – made up of patients, ex-patients, caregivers, non-profit volunteers, research and healthcare professionals – imagines and carries out projects to connect patients and research, mainly by improving collaboration and communication.
Christelle
Liard
Programmemanager
Christelle Liard Programme manager
Christelle Liard’s missions include the operational and scientific monitoring of research programmes. She is also in charge of BRIO’s partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry and French academic centres for cancer research.
Christelle graduated from ESBS (European School of Biotechnology – Strasbourg, Basel & Freiburg) in 2007, then received her PhD in immunology from the Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris 6) in 2010. Recruited as head of the pharmacology department for the start-up INVECTYS, she participated in the development of cancer immunotherapy products. While there, she filed four American and European patents before joining the pharmaceutical industry, first as the national medical manager for transplants at Novartis. She then joined the Bristol-Meyers Squibb France group as medical manager of “early assets and emerging tumours” where she coordinated the implementation of early clinical phases in France for new cancer immunotherapy molecules.
Since October 2018, Christelle has been working to coordinate SIRIC BRIO’s various research programmes, while also being involved in the Bordeaux Oncosphère project for which she is setting up major partnership strategies with industry.
Julia
Fernandez
Communication InternJulia Fernandez Communication Intern
Julia Fernandez is an intern in communications and patient involvement alongside her supervisor Nathalie Caplet.
After a year studying Information-Communications, Julia enrolled in the Department of Science at the University of Bordeaux where she is studying Life Sciences. That change of direction allowed her to become familiar with concepts from both fields. The master’s degree in science outreach that she plans to pursue, will create a solid link between science and communication.
During her internship with BRIO, she is in charge of implementing digital actions (website maintenance, social media, etc.), creating communication tools and designing/organising events.
At the same time, Julia is involved with animal protection non-profits such as the SPA (French society for the prevention of cruelty to animals), where she advocates for better treatment of animals.
Cyprien
Gillain
Junior ProgrammeManager
Cyprien Gillain Junior Programme Manager
Cyprien Gillain is the Junior Programme Manager at SIRIC BRIO.
After two years in health studies (PACES), Cyprien enrolled in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bordeaux, where he did a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry and Life Sciences.
Passionate about the field of oncology, he has done three internships in the field, allowing him to apply his skills there. Now working on a master’s degree in Sales and Marketing Management of Health Industries at TBS Business School, Cyprien got the chance to join the SIRIC BRIO team for his 12-month work/study programme. While at BRIO, he backs up Christelle as a Junior Programme Manager, dealing with research project coordination. It is an opportunity to develop managerial skills on the intriguing topic of oncology – managerial skills that he hopes to use in the coming years to build a fulfilling career in the field of oncology.