Meet
the team

Gaelle Saint-Auret

CEO, co-founder

Gaelle Saint-Auret is an expert in large-scale functional genomics. Her Ph.D. research involved implementing a DNA microarray platform (transcriptomic analysis and chip-on-chip) at the INSERM U905 lab in collaboration with the Genomics Laboratory of Genopole d’Evry near from Paris (ref-1).

In 2009, she joined as researcher, the Biomics Laboratory (under the direction of Xavier Gidrol) of the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission in Grenoble (CEA). She enhanced her skills in RNA interference-based screening and developed new strategies to study microRNA biology and mechanism of action. Its team showed for the first time that miRNA can be located in the mitochondria (ref-2). She participated in several studies conducted by Dr. Xavier Gidrol’s team dedicated to the role of several proteins and miRs in epidermis homeostasis and skin DNA damages (ref-3 to -6). She is continuing to work with Xavier Gidrol team to develop new technologies and increase insights in skin biology.

Gaelle Saint-Auret, feels strongly that the different technologies developed by Biomics lab, have the potential to become a biotech firm. After a successful training in strategic and business management in the famous French business school HEC Paris, she created GENEL.

Swathi Bisana

Technical Sales and Marketing Manager

Swathi Bisana holds a PhD in Biology from Deakin University, Australia. After solving interesting research questions through multidisciplinary approaches during her R&D tenure, she honed her business skills while working for MNCs such as Thermo Fisher Scientific and Merck in various roles of Application Support and Product Management. She heads the Sales and Marketing segments at GENEL where her versatile background allows her to adopt the right commercial strategy to position our technological solutions to a multi-sector clientele across Pharma, Dermo-cosmetic, Biotech and Healthcare.

Séverine Escaich

Project Manager in Molecular and Cell Biology

After earning her Engineer Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, Séverine Escaich has worked several years in the development of primary cells as in vitro models.
Her activities extend over Fundamental Research, Industrial applications and Diagnostics, which provide her with an insightful understanding of the scientific requirements of these different areas.
Prior to joining GENEL, Séverine enhanced her skills in Skin and Hair Biology at L’Oréal Research & Innovation where she has worked for seven years.

Xavier Gidrol

Head of the Biomics Lab, IRSTV/CEA (French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission), Grenoble

Xavier Gidrol earned is Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from Aix-Marseille University in 1984. He performed post-doctoral research at Harvard School of Public Health and at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (NUS) in Singapore, where he specialized in transcriptional regulation of gene expression.

He obtained a tenured position at INRA France, and then served as Associate Director of R&D at Xenometrix Inc. in Boulder, Colorado where he became interested in global approaches and genomics. He then joined the newly-created Functional Genomics Laboratory at France's Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies (CEA) in Paris and managed it until recently. This laboratory used large-scale functional genomics tools—DNA microarrays, ChIP-chip, cell microarrays—to infer genetic networks controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. In 2009 he took the helm of a new laboratory, "Biochip & Functional Genomics" dedicated to the use of microsystems for cell biology, at the CEA in Grenoble.

Tristan Rousselle

CEO and CSO at Aryballe Technologies SA

Tristan Rousselle holds a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble. He did part of his post graduated studies in Sussex University (Brighton-UK) and La Jolla Insitute for Allergy and Immunology (San Diebo-CA) He co-founded in 2000 the company Protein’eXpert now called PX'Therapeutics. He has also been involved in two economic development initiatives, the competitive cluster LyonBioPole and the “CSIS (Conseil Stratégique des Industries de Santé) 2012-2015 within which, Tristan is representing the SME’s and promoting Bio-Manufacturing.

In July 2013, a few months after the Acquisition of PX Therapeutics by the “Laboratoire Aguettant” Tristan decided to launch a new venture thanks to his holding company N’TherA with a lead innovative project in the field of Biosensors named “Aryballe”. In March 2014, he co-founded the company Aryballe Technologies SA which main objective is to develop the first universal and portable electronic Nose.

Philippe Archinard

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Transgene

Philippe Archinard began his professional career in 1985 with bioMérieux, where he held various positions in France and the United States, including CEO of U.S. operations. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Innogenetics from March 2000 until his appointment as CEO of Transgene. He holds a chemical engineering degree and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Lyon University, and completed the PMD program at Harvard Business School.

Éric Sulpice

Scientific committee

Eric Sulpice is a research scientist at the CEA Grenoble (France) since 2010. He began his career as engineer at Institut des Vaisseaux et du Sang (Paris) where he studied mechanisms of action of a platelet factor 4 who inhibits FGF2-induced endothelial cell proliferation.

Since 2010, he is in charge of the RNAi-based High Content Screening project within BIOMICS laboratory.

Céline Paillier

Co-founder

Céline Paillier has 20 years of experience in molecular biology. Her career began in 1995 when she took up a position as lab manager with Genome Express, France's first DNA sequencing services company, where she focused on developing customer relationships.

She later managed the customer service department at Cogenics, before moving on to a sales role at Eurofins Genomics. Prior to founding Genel with Gaelle, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Spygen, an innovative young company specializing in molecular ecology. She holds a Master's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Grenoble.

Laurent Guyon

Scientific committee

Trained as an experimental and data analyst physicist, Laurent Guyon has specialized in fluorescence microscopy and large scale biological data analysis. He is a graduate of the École Normale Supérieure in France (Lyon), with a degree in physics (Aggrégation).

While analyzing High Content Screening data, his research is dedicated to developing bioinformatics tools to provide improved knowledge from screening data, and to inferring microRNA role in cancer through system biology approaches.

Nathalie Picollet

Scientific committee

Nathalie Picollet-D’hahan is senior project manager at the CEA Grenoble (France) since 2002. After post-doctoral training in electrophysiology (CEA, 1997-2000), followed by the creation of a start-up, she has obtained in 2002 a permanent position at the CEA and was in charge to initiate new projects in cell-on-chip devices.

Since 2009, she is involved in 2D/3D cell biology and Cancer research and is the head of the “3D group” within BIOMICS laboratory.

Vincent Haguet

Scientific committee

Vincent Haguet is a scientist in CEA Grenoble (France) for 14 years. He has developed new devices and equipments for cell-based assays integrating various technologies, including cleanroom microfabrication, electronics, precision mechanics, optical technologies, image processing and software programming.